Qualitative variable

Math Glossary

A resource for WE & Friends Mathematics and Science Projects

Home  | A  | B  | C  |  D  | E  | F  | G  | H  |  I  | J  | K  | L  | M  | N  | O  | P  | Q  | R  | S  | T  | U  | V  | W  | X  | Y  | Z

This glossary is far from complete. We are constantly adding math terms.
For instructions on adding new terms, please refer to Math Glossary Main Page

Definition

Qualitative variable A variable for which values or measurements represent groups. Measured on a nominal or ordinal scale. A variable that is not qualitative is known as quantitative. Also known as a categorical variable.

Examples

The following are examples of qualitative variables:

• Gender (male, female)
• Eye color (brown, blue, green, hazel)
• Online workshop participants' country of origin

Note that a qualitative variable may be coded to appear numeric but these numbers are meaningless, as in male=1, female=2.

Web Resources

Statistics Online Computational Resource - Types of Data Online Statistics: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study, Chapter: 1. Introduction, Section: Variables

Acknowledgements

Portions of this entry were adapted from

• Qualitative Variables at Online Statistics Education: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study. Project Leader: David M. Lane, Rice University. Retrieved 28 January 2012.