Variables and

Measurement Scale

Shah Shamim Ahmed

Associate Professor
IER, University of Dhaka
ssahmed.ier@du.ac.bd
An Overview of
Statistics
 Data and Statistics
Data consists of information coming from observations,
counts, measurements, or responses.

Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing,

analyzing, and interpreting data in order to make
decisions.
A population is the collection of all outcomes,
responses, measurement, or counts that are of interest.

A sample is a subset of a population.

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 Populations & Samples
► Example:
► In 2020, 500 students Dhaka University were asked if they
participate the online classes regularly. 150 of the
students said yes. Identify the population and the sample.

Responses of all students of

Dhaka University
(population)

Responses of students
in survey (sample)

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 Parameter & Statistic
A parameter is a numerical description of a population
characteristic.

A statistic is a numerical description of a sample

characteristic.

Parameter Population

Statistic Sample

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 Parameters & Statistics
► Example:
► Decide whether the numerical value describes a population parameter or a sample statistic.

a.) A recent survey of a sample of 450 university

students reported that the average monthly income
for students is BDT 7500.00.
Because the average of 7500.00 is based on a
sample, this is a sample statistic.
b.) The average monthly income for all students is
BDT 7000.00.
Because the average of 7000.00 is based on a
population, this is a population parameter.
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 Branches of Statistics
The study of statistics has two major branches:
descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
statistics
Statistics

Descriptive Inferential
statistics statistics
Involves the Involves using a
organization, sample to draw
summarization, conclusions about
and display of data. a population.
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 Descriptive and Inferential
► Example:
Example:
► In
Statistics
a recent study, volunteers who had less than 6 hours of sleep were four times more likely to answer incorrectly on a Science test than were participants who had at
least 8 hours of sleep. Decide which part is the descriptive statistic and what conclusion might be drawn using inferential statistics.

The statement “four times more likely to answer

incorrectly” is a descriptive statistic. An inference
drawn from the sample is that all individuals sleeping
less than 6 hours are more likely to answer Science
question incorrectly than individuals who sleep at least
8 hours.
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Data Types
 Types of Data/Variable
Data sets can consist of two types of data: qualitative
data and quantitative data.
Data

Qualitative Quantitative
Data Data
Consists of Consists of
attributes, labels, numerical
or non-numerical measurements or
entries. counts.
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 Qualitative and Quantitative Data
► Example:
► The grade point averages of five students are listed in the table. Which data are qualitative data and which are quantitative data?

Performance GPA
Excellent 3.98
Good 3.22
Average 2.75
Poor 2.24
Fail 1.34
Qualitative data Quantitative data
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 Types of Data/Variable
 Quantitative data can be classified as either discrete
or continuous.
 Discrete variables: can only assume certain
values and there are usually “gaps” between values.

Example: the number of bedrooms in a house. (1,2,3,...,

etc...).

 Continuous variables: can assume any value

within a specific range.
Example: The time it takes to fly from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar.

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 Dependent and Independent Variables
The variables :
Students GPAs and amount of time they
spend on studying
A firm’s sale and expenditure on advertisement
 Dependent variable and Independent variable
 Determination of dependent and independent
variable is crucial

Usually
X : Independent variable
Y : Dependent variable
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Dependent and Independent Variables

Ex. Sales and advertisement expenditures (in million

Taka) of a firm on different months are
Sales 3 6 4 6 3 5 4
Advertisement 2 4 2 3 1 3 2.5

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Dependent and Independent Variables
An independent variable is a variable that stands
alone and isn't changed by the other variables you
are trying to measure.

In fact, when you are looking for some kind of

relationship between variables you are trying to see
if the independent variable causes some kind of
change in the other variables, or dependent
variables.

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 Dependent and Independent Variables
A dependent variable is a variable that depends on
other variables.
For example, a test score could be a dependent
variable because it could change depending on
several factors such as how much you studied, how
much sleep you got the night before you took the
test, or even how hungry you were when you took it.

Usually when you are looking for a relationship between

two things you are trying to find out what makes the
dependent variable change the way it does.

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 Levels of Measurement
The level of measurement determines which statistical
calculations are meaningful. The four levels of
measurement are: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.

Nominal
Levels Lowest
Ordinal to
of
Measurement Interval highest

Ratio

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 Nominal Level of Measurement
Data at the nominal level of measurement are
qualitative only.
Nominal
Data that can only be classified
Levels into categories and cannot be
of arranged in an ordering scheme.
Measurement No mathematical computations
can be made at this level.

Colors Names of Textbooks you

in the students in your are using this
flag class semester

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 Categories must be mutually
exclusive and exhaustive
Mutually exclusive: Categories are so defined that
each member of the population is correctly
allocated to one and only one category

Exhaustive: each person, object, or item must be

classified in at least one category i.e. A
classification is exhaustive when it provides
sufficient categories to accommodated all
members of the population

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 Ordinal Level of Measurement
Data at the ordinal level of measurement are qualitative
or quantitative.

Levels
of Ordinal
Measurement Arranged in order, but
differences between data
entries are not meaningful.

Class standings: Numbers on the Top 50 songs

fresher, back of each played on the
experienced, player’s shirt radio
junior, senior
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 Interval Level of Measurement
Data at the interval level of measurement are
quantitative. A zero entry simply represents a position on
a scale; the entry is not an inherent zero.
Levels
of
Measurement Interval
Arranged in order, the differences
between data entries can be
calculated.
Temperatures Years on a
timeline

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 Ratio Level of Measurement
Data at the ratio level of measurement are similar to the
interval level, but a zero entry is meaningful.

A ratio of two data values can be

Levels
formed so that one data value can be
of
expressed as a ratio.
Measurement

Ratio

Ages Grade point Weights

averages

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Summary of Levels of Measurement

Level of Put data in Arrange Add & Determine if one

measurement categories data in order Subtract data value is a
data values multiple of
another

Nominal
√   
Ordinal
√ √  
Interval
√ √ √ 
Ratio
√ √ √ √

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Any query?

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