DISCRETE VARIABLE IN A RESEARCH
Discrete variables are numeric variables that have a
countable number of values between any two values. A discrete variable is
always numeric. It is a variable whose value is obtained by counting, e.g.
number of students present.
Characteristics of discrete variable
·
Discrete variable is a type of
statistical variable.
·
It can assume only fixed number of
distinct values and lacks an inherent order.
·
It is also known as categorical
variables, because it has separate invisible categories
·
It is not continuous.
·
Discrete variables are limited number of
values which cannot be divided in to fractions.
Types of discrete variables
1. Nominal
variables
·
Named variables
·
A scale that categorizes items
·
No ordering, no direction
·
E.g.- marital status
2. Ordinal
variables
·
Named variables + ordered variables
·
Rankings, ordered or scaling
·
E.g. student letter grade
