Kinds of Variables

QUALITATIVE VARIABLES are those which are described as attributes and not describes numerically such as gender, religion, employment status or profession. A characteristic which varies only in quality from one individual to another is called qualitative variable. It cannot be measures.

Qualitative Variables:

Dichotomous - is described or presented in only two categories such as gender being described as male or female.

Multinomial - is described or presented in more than two categories such as religion being Catholic, Protestant, Muslim or Buddhist.



QUANTITATIVE VARIABLES are those which are described numerically. A characteristic which only varies only in magnitude from one individual to another. It can be measured.

Quantitative Variables:

Discrete - those that have a basic unit of measurement which cannot be subdivided. A type of data is discrete if there are only a finite number of values possible or if there is a space on the number line between each 2 possible values. For example, the number of cars manufactured per month, etc.

Continuous - those measurements which can be subdivided infinitely. Continuous data or variable makes up the rest of numerical data. This is a type of data that is usually associated with some sort of physical measurement. For example, the number of hectares planted with rice or the purchasing power index for the year, etc.


OTHER TYPES OF VARIABLES

Dependent Variable -  is a variable that is affected or influenced by another variable.

Independent Variable - is a variable that affects or influences the dependent variable.