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Example: Number of students in a class, Size of shoes (that is it
may be 5 but not between 5 and 6) etc.

b. Continuous Variable
Continuous variables are variables for which data can take on
any value in a certain range or interval. The characteristic of a
◆ Value within a range continuous variable is that, its values can vary within the limits and
any value is possible. There is no gap in the scales of a continuous
variable. They can take any value on the scale on which they are
measured.
Example: height, weight.

II. Qualitative Variables/ Categorical Variable
A qualitative variable is a variable that is not numerical
and it classifies the data into different categories. It allows the
classification of individuals or objects based on some attributes
◆ Represent or characteristics. Qualitative variables are those variables which
◆ Represent
characteristics cannot be quantified but their presence or absence will be noticed.
characteristics
Qualitative variables refer to those that cannot be manipulated
once the investigation has begun and that consist of categories
that cannot be ordered in magnitude. They are ready to use and
descriptive in nature. Variables such as colour, gender, religion,
marital status etc. are examples.

Qualitative variables can again be classified into Dichotomous,
Nominal and Ordinal Variables.
a. Dichotomous Variables
Dichotomous variables are those that have only two possible
categories with an assigned value. Although these variables can
technically be considered nominal, they are often considered as a
◆ Represent special case because their binary nature is an attribute that other
◆ Two categories
characteristics measures do not have. Some of the variables used in behavioural
research are true dichotomies, that is, they are characterised by
the presence or absence of a property: alive/dead, employed/
unemployed. Other examples of two-valued variables are: teacher/
non-teacher, viewers/non-viewers of television, etc..
Example

Athlete Average point Position Won championship

A 15.6 2 Yes

B 12.3 3 No

C 15.8 1 Yes

86 SGOU - SLM -MCom Research Methodology