II. Quantitative Data
Quantitative data is defined as numerical data and represents quantities or measurements. This type of data is mostly used to represent the quantities, magnitudes, or amounts, and is amenable to mathematical operations and analysis. It includes interval and ratio data. This type of data is suitable for mathematical and statistical analysis. Quantitative data provides a structured and objective way to describe and analyse phenomena, making it suitable for statistical analysis and mathematical modeling.
Characteristics of Quantitative Data
1. Measurable: This type of data can be easily measured and quantified. This means that we can perform arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on these types of data values.
2. Numerical Values: This data is represented by numbers. These numbers can be discrete (whole numbers) or continuous (real numbers with infinite decimal places).
3. Visual Representation: Quantitative data can be effectively represented using various graphical tools, such as histograms, bar charts, scatter plots, box plots, and line graphs.
4. Descriptive Statistics: Descriptive statistics is used to summarise and describe quantitative data.
Categorisation of Quantitative Data
1. Discrete Data: Discrete data consists of distinct values, separate values that cannot be broken down further. These values are typically whole numbers and often represent counts of items or events. For example, the roll numbers of students in a class can only be 1, 2, 3, 4, …, so on.
2. Continuous Data: This data is measured on a continuous scale, which means that it can take on any value within a specified range. For example, weight and height of different people.
Examples of Quantitative Data
- Test Scores: Scores on exams or assessments, such as a score of 85% on a test, are quantitative data.
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product): Economic indicators like GDP, expressed in billions of dollars, represent quantitative data.
- Age: Age is a common example of quantitative data. It is represented as a numerical value, such as 25 years old.
- Height: The height of a person can be measured in inches or centimeters, making it quantitative data.
- Weight: Weight is expressed in pounds or kilograms.
- Income: A person’s income, such as $50,000 per year is quantitative data.
- Temperature: Temperature measurements, whether in Fahrenheit or Celsius, are quantitative data. For example, 32°F or 0°C.