Question

Which of the following defines a categorical variable?

A variable that takes numerical values that measure some characteristic of each individual, like height in centimeters or salary in dollars per year.

Any characteristic of an individual. A variable can take different values for different individuals.

A variable that places each individual into a category.

Object described by a set of data. Individuals may be people, but they may also be animals or things.

Answer 1

Answer (C): A variable that places each individual into a category.

Variables can be classified as categorical or quantitative.

• Categorical: Categorical variables take on values that are names or labels. Example: The color of a marble (e.g., red, green, blue), the breed of a dog (e.g shepherd, terrier), the religion of a person(e.g Christian, Hindu, Muslim).
  
• Quantitative: Quantitative variables are numerical. They represent a measurable quantity. Example: Number of marbles in a jar, number of stadiums in a country, height or weight of a student.