Types of Data
Different Types of Data
Ordinal Data vs. Nominal Data
Scalar Quantities vs. Vector Quantities
Qualitative Data vs. Quantitative Data
Empirically Derived Data vs.
Computationally Derived Data
Ordinal Data
Nominal Data
(as in order or rank)
Name / Arbitrary
Is data listed in a logical order like 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
The Likert scale is used in many surveys
and is an example of ordinal data.
Likert Scale
The listing of the data or categories is
Arbitrary and typically names the object.
Example:
Race / Ethnicity Values:
1 = Black
2 = White
3 = Hispanic
4 = American Indian
5 = Other
1=Strongly disagree;
2=Disagree;
3=Neutral;
4=Agree;
5=Strongly agree
Scalar Quantities
Vector Quantity
Have magnitude but not a direction
have both magnitude and direction

Scalar quantities should be
distinguished from vectors (i.e.
distance, power, speed). Just
because you know the speed
a car is traveling does not
mean you know the direction
the car is traveling in.
What’s my speed?
25 mph

Vectors are a mathematical
concept represented as a
line with a starting point, a
length and direction. Vectors
can be described with
mathematical equations.
Most 2D and 3D computer
graphic software packages
create shapes using vectors.
250 mph
Magnitude
Direction
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Types of Data
Qualitative Data
describes
Describes and includes obtainable information
that is not numerical in nature.
Quantitative Data
Can be counted or measured
Definable information that can be
counted or measured.
Examples:
Interviews
 Direct Observation
 Written documents





Newspapers
Magazines
Books
Websites, etc.
Two Different Types of Data
Examples:
Temperature at 12 pm in Charlotte
on 4/30/2013
The Size of a Leaf, 5” long.
Number of students who passed
the VOCATS test last semester, 55
Empirically Derived Data
Data you can physically

Computationally Derived Data
measure like length, width,
or height that does not
require a mathematical

Empirically Derived Data
formula to find.
Computationally Derived Data
Data that requires you
to see a formula and
perform a calculation
to get a measurement
such as area, volume,
circumference.
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