Types of Data

With the basics covered, it's time to explore the different data categories used in statistics and how they guide analysis.

Now consider a sample of people described by two variables:

• Number of teeth;
• Height.

The number of teeth is considered a discrete variable because teeth are counted in whole numbers, and you cannot have a fractional or decimal part of a tooth. Each individual has a specific, countable number of teeth, and the count is a distinct and separate value.

In contrast, height is considered a continuous variable because it can take on any value within a certain range, and there is an infinite number of values in the interval between any two values of heights.