Question

Categorize the following as either discrete qualitative, discrete quantitative or continuous quantitative.

(i) The listing of “reason given for quitting a job”.

(ii) Precise time it takes a bank teller to service a customer.

(iii) Number of damaged items in a shipment of 10,000 items.

(iv) The amount (to the nearest ounce) of antifreeze in a container

Answer 1

(i) The listing of “reason given for quitting a job” is DISCRETE QUALITATIVE.

Qualitative data is defined as the data that approximates and characterizes. It can be observed and recorded. This data type is non-numerical in nature. This type of data is collected through methods of observations, one-to-one interview, conducting focus groups and similar methods. Qualitative data in statistics is also known as categorical data. Data that can be arranged categorically based on the attributes and properties of a thing or a phenomenon. Thus the reasons given for quitting a job is qualitative data.

Discrete data is a count that involves integers. Since the listing of reasons involves only integers, it is also discrete.

Thus the listing of “reason given for quitting a job” is DISCRETE QUALITATIVE since it is countable and non numerical.

(ii) Precise time it takes a bank teller to service a customer is CONTINUOUS QUANTITATIVE.

Quantitative data deals with numeric values which can be measured. Since the time deals with numbers is measured, it is quantitative.

Continuous data is information that could be meaningfully divided into finer levels. It can be measured on a scale or continuum and can have almost any numeric value. In general, continuous variables are not counted. The values can be subdivided into smaller and smaller pieces and is measurable. It has an infinite number of possible values within an interval.

Thus precise time it takes a bank teller to service a customer is CONTINUOUS QUANTITATIVE since it is numerical and takes infinite number of possible values.

(iii) Number of damaged items in a shipment of 10,000 items is DISCRETE QUANTITATIVE.

Quantitative data deals with numeric values which can be measured. Since the number of damaged items in a shipment    is measured, it is quantitative.

Discrete data is countable and has only finite numbers. It can't be broken since it is a whole number.

Thus the number of damaged items in a shipment of 10,000 items is DISCRETE QUANTITATIVE since it takes numeric values and it is a count.

(iv)The amount (to the nearest ounce) of antifreeze in a container is CONTINUOUS QUANTITATIVE.

Quantitative data deals with numeric values which can be measured. Since the amount (to the nearest ounce) of antifreeze is measured, it is quantitative.

Continuous data is information that could be meaningfully divided into finer levels. It can be measured on a scale or continuum and can have almost any numeric value. In general, continuous variables are not counted. The values can be subdivided into smaller and smaller pieces and is measurable. It has an infinite number of possible values within an interval.

Thus the amount (to the nearest ounce) of antifreeze in a container is CONTINUOUS QUANTITATIVE since it is numerical and takes infinite number of possible values.