WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

CONTINUOUS
&

ATTRIBUTE
DATA?

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 MEANING

Discrete Data (Attribute Data)

represents counted / classified /
categorized data. Only a finite
number of values are possible and
cannot be subdivided
meaningfully. E.g. number of
defects, number of people in a
room, number of products audited
etc.

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Data is of two types basis
statistics. It is Quantitative or
Qualitative. Quantitative is
descriptive data, which can be
categorized into subgroups for
analysis; qualitative is numerical,
which means either measurable /
countable. Qualitative data is
again divided into two types
continuous and discrete data.

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 CONTINUOUS DATA

It is measurable on a scale.
The data falls within a finite or
infinite range.
It can be broken into
subcategories.
The frequency is depicted in a
histogram, where skewness is
shown clearly.

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Values are allowed to group
within the range.
E.g. Temperature of the
person, Height, Weight, Age,
time, Cycle time taken to
complete a task.

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 DISCRETE DATA

It is countable.
The data has only finite
numbers.
It can't be broken since it is a
whole number.
The values take a distinct
value hence it is represented
in the bar diagram, skewness
can't be seen.

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The values are individual
values.
Eg. No. of computers, No. of
students, no. of books, no. of
certificates, no. of errors, etc

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In certain situations, discrete data
may take on characteristics of
continuous data. But, if counts
are large, the values are relatively
wide, and the values are
distributed across the deals, you
can “pretend” it is continuous and
use the appropriate tools.

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 INQUIRE NOW!

Learn about Continuous &

Attribute Data in our Green Belt,
Black Belt, and Master Black Belt
programs.

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