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MODULE 03 Types of Data

This module describes different types of data commonly used in public health like numerical and categorical variables. Numerical variables assign quantitative numbers and can be discrete or continuous, using ratio or interval scales. Categorical variables classify individuals into nominal or ordinal categories. Datasets organize variables into tables with rows for individuals and columns for each variable.

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Sindhuja Vigneshwaran
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76 views12 pages

MODULE 03 Types of Data

This module describes different types of data commonly used in public health like numerical and categorical variables. Numerical variables assign quantitative numbers and can be discrete or continuous, using ratio or interval scales. Categorical variables classify individuals into nominal or ordinal categories. Datasets organize variables into tables with rows for individuals and columns for each variable.

Uploaded by

Sindhuja Vigneshwaran
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 2: Types of Data

This module describes the types of data typically


encountered in public health applications.
Recognizing and understanding the different data
types is an important component of proper data use
and interpretation.

Reviewed 15 April 2005 /MODULE 2


Data and Variables

Data are often discussed in terms of variables,


where a variable is:
Any characteristic that varies from one
member of a population to another.
A simple example is height in centimeters,
which varies from person to person.
Types of Variables

There are two basic types of variables: numerical


and categorical variables.

Numerical Variables: variables to which a number


is assigned as a quantitative value.

Categorical Variables: variables defined by the


classes or categories into which an individual
member falls.
Types of Numerical variables
Discrete: Reflects a number obtained by counting
no decimal.
Continuous: Reflects a measurement; the number
of decimal places depends on the precision of the
measuring device.
Ratio scale: Order and distance implied. Differences can
be compared; has a true zero. Ratios can be compared.

Examples: Height, weight, blood pressure


Interval scale: Order and distance implied. Differences
can be compared; no true zero. Ratios cannot be
compared.
Example: Temperature in Celsius.
Ratio Scale
Categorical Variables

Defined by the classes or categories into which an


individual member falls.

Nominal Scale: Name only--Gender, hair


color, ethnicity

Ordinal Scale: Nominal categories with an


implied order--Low, medium, high.
NOMINAL SCALE

b. Appearance of plasma: b.

1. Clear 1.

2. Turbid 2.

9. Not done 9.
ORDINAL SCALE
81.Urine protein (dipstick reading): 81.

1. Negative 1.

2. Trace. 2.

3. 30 mg% or + 3.

4. 100 mg% or ++ 4.

5. 300 mg% or +++ 5.

6. 1000 mg% or ++++ 6.

If urine protein is 3+ or above, be


sure subject gets a 24 hour urine
collection container and instruction
Likert Scale

Question: Compared to others, what is your


satisfaction rating of the National Practitioner Data
Bank?
1 2 3 4 5

Very Somewhat Neutral Somewhat Very


Satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Dissatisfied
Datasets and Data Tables

Dataset: Data for a group of variables for a


collection of persons.

Data Table: A dataset organized into a table, with


one column for each variable and one row for each
person.
Typical Data Table
OBS AGE BMI FFNUM TEMP( 0F) GENDER EXERCISE LEVEL QUESTION
1 26 23.2 0 61.0 0 1 1
2 30 30.2 9 65.5 1 3 2
3 32 28.9 17 59.6 1 3 4
4 37 22.4 1 68.4 1 2 3
5 33 25.5 7 64.5 0 3 5
6 29 22.3 1 70.2 0 2 2
7 32 23.0 0 67.3 0 1 1
8 33 26.3 1 72.8 0 3 1
9 32 22.2 3 71.5 0 1 4
10 33 29.1 5 63.2 1 1 4
11 26 20.8 2 69.1 0 1 3
12 34 20.9 4 73.6 0 2 3
13 31 36.3 1 66.3 0 2 5
14 31 36.4 0 66.9 1 1 5
15 27 28.6 2 70.2 1 2 2
16 36 27.5 2 68.5 1 3 3
17 35 25.6 143 67.8 1 3 4
18 31 21.2 11 70.7 1 1 2
19 36 22.7 8 69.8 0 2 1
20 33 28.1 3 67.8 0 2 1
Definitions for Variables
AGE: Age in years
BMI: Body mass index, weight/height2 in kg/m2
FFNUM: The average number of times eating fast food
in a week
TEMP: High temperature for the day
GENDER: 1- Female 0- Male
EXERCISE LEVEL: 1- Low 2- Medium 3- High
QUESTION: Compared to others, what is your satisfaction
rating of the National Practitioner Data Bank?
1- Very Satisfied 2- Somewhat Satisfied 3- Neutral
4- Somewhat dissatisfied 5- Dissatisfied

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