GENERAL

CLASSIFICATION OF
NATURE OF
VARIABLES
QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE
 VARIABLES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES

QUALITATIVE These variables are simply labels or hair colors such as black,
categories of a bigger variable. It is also white, and red
termed as nominal or categorical
variables. Qualitative variables having Sex (male, female)
only two distinct categories such as sex
(male, female) is termed as binary or
dichotomous variable.

QUANTITATIVE Quantitative variables are those Weight in kilos (50 kg.),

characteristics that can be measured or
counted. Quantitative variables can be
continuous or discrete. number of students in the
class (50 students)
 QUANTITATIVE
Continuous quantitative variables are those for which we
can take a middle value given the two values no matter how
close they are to each other.

Continuous quantitative variables can take a decimal or a

fraction of quantity without reducing its meaning in reality.
On a weighing scale that can
afford to hold 100 kilos, a
weight of a person may be
45.5 kilos, 60.8 70 kilos.
 QUANTITATIVE
Discrete quantitative variables are those characteristics that cannot
take a middle value of the given values but can take a value in a
given range of values.
In a questionnaire where you
The logic is simple. There is need to declare the total male
no half male or half female in
the class. Discrete
and female population in the
quantitative variable is class, you can say 10 females
always a whole number. and 10 males but cannot say
Reducing the quantity into its 10.5 females and 9.5 males.
decimal or fraction form does
not have meaning in reality.
 SPECIFIC NATURE OF VARIABLES
NATURE OF DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES
VARIABLES

NOMINAL These variables are labels • Hair colors (black, white, gold)
or categories of a bigger • Sex (male, female)
variable

ORDINAL These variables have • Class ranking of honors (1st , 2 nd)

natural order among the • Letter Grade (A, B, C) If a student scores an A and
categories, such as, another student scores a B in a given quiz, then we
ranking or letter grades. cannot say precisely the difference in their scores.
They are categorical Only that an A is larger than a B.
variables and do not
provide exact
measurements.
INTER This is a level of • Degree Fahrenheit
VAL measurement that can be The difference between 80 degrees
measured along a Fahrenheit and 100 degrees Fahrenheit is
continuum and the the same as 110 degrees Fahrenheit and
intervals between values 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
are equally spaced. • Degree Celsius
The difference between 30 degrees Celsius
and 35-17 degrees Celsius is the same as 60
degrees Celsius and 65 degrees Celsius

RATIO This is a level of • Age (16, 17, 18, 19)

measurement with • Scores (90, 83, 85, 75)
condition that 0 (zero) of • Height (5”, 5”3’)
the measurement • Weight (45 kgs., 80 kgs.)
indicates that there is
none in that variable.
 EXAMPLE OF RATIO
E.g. If Frank is 20 years old and Paul is twice as old as How much time do you spend on the internet daily?
Frank. How old will Paul be in the next 10 years? Less than 2 hours
20 3-4 hours
30 4-5 hours
40 5-6 hours
50 More than 6 hours
60 Measurement
Surveys/Questionnaires When registering for National passport, National ID
(Organizations use this tool whenever they want to Card, etc. there is always a need to profile applicants.
get feedback about their product or service, perform As part of this profiling, a record of the applicant’s
market research, and competitive analysis. They use height, weight, etc. is usually taken.
ratio variables to collect relevant data from
respondents.)