Qualitative Variables
Qualitative variables, also known as categorical variables, are types of data that describe characteristics or qualities rather than numerical values. They can be divided into categories or groups, such as gender, color, or type of cuisine. These variables help in understanding the attributes of a subject without measuring them in numbers.
Qualitative variables can be further classified into nominal and ordinal types. Nominal variables have no inherent order, like fruit type or car brand, while ordinal variables have a clear ranking, such as education level or customer satisfaction. Both types are essential for analyzing data in various fields, including social sciences and market research.