When working with statistical data, researchers need to get acquainted with the data types used—categorical and numerical data. The different data types are used in separate cases and require different statistical and visualization techniques.
Therefore, researchers need to understand the different data types and their analysis. This knowledge is what is used during the research process.
Numerical data as a case study is categorized into discrete and continuous data where continuous data are further grouped into interval and ratio data. These data types are significantly used for statistical analysis or research purposes.
Numerical data is a data type expressed in numbers, rather than natural language description. Sometimes called quantitative data, numerical data is always collected in number form. Numerical data differentiates itself from other number form data types with its ability to carry out arithmetic operations with these numbers.
For example, numerical data of the number of male students and female students in a class may be taken, then added together to get the total number of students in the class. This characteristic is one of the major ways of identifying numerical data.
Numerical data can take 2 different forms, namely; discrete data, which represents countable items and continuous data, which represents data measurement. The continuous type of numerical data is further sub-divided into interval and ratio data, which is known to be used for measuring items.
Discrete Data represents countable items and can take both numerical and categorical forms, depending on usage. It takes on values that can be grouped into a list, where the list may either be finite or infinite. Whether finite or infinite, discrete data take on counting numbers like 1 to 10 or 1 to infinity, with these groups of numbers being countably finite and countably infinite respectively.
A more practical example of discrete data will be counting the cups of water required to empty a bucket and counting the cups of water required to empty an ocean—the former is finite countable while the latter is infinite countable.
This is a type of numerical data which represents measurements—their values are described as intervals on a real number line, rather than take counting numbers. For example, the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in a 5 point grading system defines first-class students as those whose CGPA falls under 4.50 – 5.00, second class upper as 3.50 – 4.49, second class lower as 2.50 – 3.49, third class as 1.5 – 2.49, pass as 1.00 – 1.49 and fail as 0.00 – 0.99..
A student may score a point 4.495, 2.125, 3.5 or any possible number from 0 to 5. In this case, the continuous data is regarded as being uncountably finite.
Continuous data may be subdivided into two types, namely; Interval & Ratio Data.
This is a data type measured along a scale, in which each point is placed at an equal distance from one another. Interval data takes numerical values that can only take the addition and subtraction operations.
For example, the temperature of a body measured in degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit is regarded as interval data. This temperature does not have a zero point.
Ratio data is a continuous data type similar to interval data but has a zero point. In other words, ratio data is interval data with zero points. For ratio data, the temperature may not only be measured in degrees Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit, but also in Kelvin. The presence of zero-point accommodates the measurement of 0 Kelvin.
Numerical data examples which are usually expressed in numbers include; census data, temperature, age, mark grading, annual income, time, height, IQ, CGPA, etc. These numerical examples, either in countable numbers as in discrete data or measurement form like continuous data call all be labeled as an example of numerical data
Knowing the Census of a country assists the Government in making proper economic decisions. It is an example of countably finite discrete data.
This data type also puts into consideration the unit of measurement. Interval data, for instance, can only measure in degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit, while ratio data can also measure in Kelvin.
Although numbers are infinite in the real sense, the number of years people spend in life is finite, making it countably finite discrete data. For example, a person who is 20 years old today may finish high school at 16, 4 years ago.
When applying for admission in a school, for instance, your O level results may add up to your score. Therefore, the admission board may ask you to input your grades—A is 5 points, B is 4 points, C is 3 points, D is 2 points and E is 1 point. All these points are added together to make your total admission score.
The height of a person, measured in centimeters, meters, inches, etc. is continuous data.
This score is not only quantitative but also has quantitative properties. An IQ test score is an example of uncountably finite categorical data.
The weight of a person measured in kg is numerical data and may be an indication of fat or slim which is a categorical variable.
This exhibits the characteristics of numerical data and is a countably finite discrete data example.
The number of students in a class is also a countably finite discrete data example.
Therefore, the results of rolling dice are a countably finite discrete data example.
This height takes a numeric value that varies in plants and can increase as the plant grows. The length of a leaf measured in centimeters is continuous data.
A numerical variable is a data variable that takes on any value within a finite or infinite interval (e.g. length, test scores, etc.). the numerical variable can also be called a continuous variable because it exhibits the features of continuous data. Unlike discrete data, continuous data takes on both finite and infinite values.
There are two types of numerical variables, namely; interval and ratio variables.
An interval variable has values with interpretable differences, but no true zero. A good example is a temperature when measured in degrees Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit.
The interval variables can be added and subtracted, but cannot be multiplied and divided. The ratio variable, on the other hand, does all this.
The Interval variable is an extension of the ordinal variable, with a standardized difference between variables in the interval scale. There are two distributions on interval variables, namely; normal distribution and non-normal distribution
A real-valued random variable is said to be normally distributed if its distribution is unknown. We consider two main samples of normal distribution and carry out different tests on them.
Matched Sample
A real-valued random variable is said to be non-normally distributed if its distribution is known. We consider two main samples of non-normal distribution and carry out different tests on them
The ratio variable is an extension of the interval variable, with values with a true zero, and can be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided. The tests carried out on these variables are similar to those of interval variables.
Numerical data analysis can be interpreted using two main statistical methods of analysis, namely; descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Numerical analysis in inferential statistics can be interpreted with swot, trend, and conjoint analysis while descriptive statistics make use of measures of central tendency,
Descriptive statistics are used to describe a sample population using data sets collected from that population. Descriptive statistical methods used in analyzing numerical data are; mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation, etc.
Inferential Statistics
Inferential is used to make predictions or inferences on a large population based on the data collected from a sample population. Below are some of the methods used for analyzing numerical data.
Using Trend analysis, researchers gather the data of the birth rate in a country for a certain period and use it to predict future populations. Predicting a country’s population has a lot of economic importance.
Before engaging in any marketing or advertising campaign, companies need to first analyze some internal and external factors that may affect the campaign. In most cases, they use a SWOT analysis.
Numerical data is very popular among researchers due to its compatibility with most statistical techniques. It helps ease the research process.
During the product development stage, product researchers use TURF analysis to investigate whether a new product or service will be well-received in the target market or not.
Interval data is used in the education sector to compute the grading system. When calculating the Cumulative Grade Point Average of a student, the examiner uses interval data of the student’s scores in the various courses offered.
Doctors use the thermometer to measure a patient’s body temperature as part of a medical check-up. In most cases, body temperature is measured in Celsius, therefore passing as interval data.
Numerical data is one of the most useful data types in statistical analysis. Formplus provides its users with a repository of great features to go with it. With Formplus’s web-based data collection tool, you have access to features that will assist you in making strategic business decisions. This way, you can improve business sales, launch better products and serve customers better.
Numerical data research techniques employ inquiry strategies such as experiments and surveys. The findings may be predictive, explanatory, and confirming.
It involves the collection of data which is then subjected to statistical treatment to support or refute a hypothesis. Thus, numerical data collection techniques are used to gather data from different reliable sources, which deal with numbers, statistics, charts, graphs, tables, etc.
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