Categorical variables

Definition

Categorical variables are variables that represent categories or groups and have a limited number of distinct values. These values are usually qualitative and describe characteristics or attributes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Categorical variables can be either nominal or ordinal.
2. Nominal variables have no inherent order, such as colors or types of animals.
3. Ordinal variables have a meaningful order, like rankings or levels of education.
4. Bar charts and pie charts are commonly used to visualize categorical data.
5. Categorical data can sometimes be converted into numerical codes for analysis.

Review Questions

• What is the difference between nominal and ordinal categorical variables?
• Which types of charts are best suited for visualizing categorical data?
• Can categorical data be converted into numerical form? If so, why might this be done?

Related terms

Nominal Variable: A type of categorical variable with no intrinsic ordering among its categories, such as blood type or gender.

Ordinal Variable: A type of categorical variable where the categories have a meaningful order, such as class ranks or satisfaction levels.

Quantitative Variable: Variables that represent numerical values and can be measured on an interval or ratio scale.