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Quantitative variables
Are the variables that take as an argument numerical quantities, are mathematical
variables. The quantitative variables can also be:
Discrete variable: It is the variable that presents separations or interruptions in the
scale of values that it can take. These separations or interruptions indicate the
absence of values between the different specific values that the variable can
assume. Example: The number of children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Continuous variable: The variable that can acquire any value within a specified
range of values. For example the mass (2.3 kg, 2.4 kg, 2.5 kg, ...) or the height
(1.64 m, 1.65 m, 1.66 m, ...), or the salary. It is only limited by the accuracy of the
measuring device, in theory they allow a value to exist between two variables.
Measurement Levels
The measurement levels are the nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio scales. They
are used to help in the classification of the variables, the design of the questions to
measure variables, and even indicate the type of statistical analysis appropriate for
the treatment of the data.
a) Nominal Measurement.
At this level of measurement, distinctive categories are established that do not
imply a specific order. For example, if the unit of analysis is a group of people, to
classify them you can establish the sex category with two levels, masculine (M)
and feminine (F), the respondents only have to indicate their gender, it is not
required a real order.
Thus, if numbers are assigned to these levels they only serve for identification and
can be indistinct: 1 = M, 2 = F or, the numbers can be inverted without affecting the
measurement: 1 = F and 2 = M. In summary, on the nominal scale, numbers are
assigned to events with the purpose of identifying them. There is no quantitative
reference. It serves to name the units of analysis in an investigation and is used in
prisons, schools, sports, etc. The logical relationship expressed is: A B (A is
different from B).
b) Ordinal measurement.
Categories are established with two or more levels that imply an inherent order
among them. The ordinal measurement scale is quantitative because it allows
ordering events according to the greater or lesser possession of an attribute or
characteristic. For example, in elementary school institutions, students are usually
trained by stature, a quantitative order is developed but no measures are provided
by the subjects. The logical relationship expressed by this scale is A B (A is
greater than B). Classifying a group of people by the social class to which they
belong implies a prescribed order that goes from the highest to the lowest. These
scales allow the assignment of numbers according to a prescribed order.
The most common forms of ordinal variables are attitudinal (reactive) items,
establishing a series of levels that express an attitude of agreement or
disagreement with respect to some referent. For example, before the item: The
Mexican economy should be dollarized, the respondent can mark his answer
according to the following alternatives:
___ In agreement
___ Indifferent
___ In disagreement
d) Reason Measurement.
A ratio measurement scale includes the characteristics of the previous three levels
of measurement (nominal, ordinal and interval). Determine the exact distance
between the intervals of a category. Additionally, it has an absolute zero point, that
is, at the zero point there is no characteristic or attribute that is measured. The
variables of income, age, number of children, etc. They are examples of this type
of scale. The level of reason measurement applies to both continuous and discrete
variables.