What is data?

What is data?

Data:

Data is a collection of facts, such as numbers, words, measurements, observations or even just descriptions of things.

Types of Data:

Qualitative data: 

Qualitative data is descriptive information (it describes about something).

Quantitative data:

Quantitative data is the s numerical information (numbers).

• Discrete data can only take certain values (like whole numbers)

• Continuous data can take any value (within a range)

Example: What do you know about the dog?

Qualitative:

• He is brown and black
• He has long hair
• He has lots of energy

Quantitative:

Discrete:

• He has 4 legs
• He has 2 brothers

Continuous:

• He weighs 25.5 kg
• He is 565 mm tall

Data or Datum?

Datum is is a singular i.e.we say "that datum is very high".

Data is the plural i.e. we say "the data are available", 

but data is also a collection of facts, so "the data is available" is fine too.

Data Collection and its Sources

Measurement Scales

    Basic Concepts