Methods of Data Classification

Prof. Fahimuddin
KMC Urdu Arabi Farsi University
Lucknow

1
 Methods

There are two ways in which observations in

the data set are classified on the basis of class
intervals:
• Exclusive Method
• Inclusive Method

2
 Exclusive Method

When data are classified in such a way that the upper limit
of a class interval is the lower limit of the succeeding class
intervals.

That means no data falls into more than one class intervals.

Then it is said to be exclusive method of classifying data

3
 Example of Exclusive Method of Data Classification

Dividend in per cent Number of Companies

(Class Intervals) (Frequecny)
0 to 10 5
10 to 20 7
20 to 30 15
30 to 40 10

4
•Such classification ensures continuity of data because the
upper limit of one class is lower limit of succeeding class.

•As shown in earlier table that companies declared dividend

ranging from 0 to 10 per cent, this means the company
which declared exactly 10 per cent dividend would not be
included in the class 0 to 10 but would be included in next
class 10 to 20 per cent.

•Since to make point clear, and to avoid confusion data are

displayed in a slightly different manner as shown ahead.

5
Dividend in per cent Number of Companies
(Class Intervals) (Frequency)
0 but less than 10 5
10 but less than 20 7
20 but less than 30 15
30 but less than 40 10

6
 Inclusive Method
• When data are classified in such a way
that upper limits of class intervals are
included in the interval itself.

• This is called inclusive method of

classifying the data.

7
 Example

Number of Cases Number of Weeks

(Class Intervals) (Frequency)

0 to 4 3
4 To 9 22

10 To 14 13

15 To 19 8

8
 Certain Points of Understanding-1
 An exclusive method should be used to
classify a set of data involving continuous
variable.

 An inclusive method should be used to

classify a set of data involving discrete
variable.

9
 Continuous Variable

If a variable can take on any value between its minimum value and
its maximum value,
it is called a continuous variable; otherwise, it is called a discrete
variable.

Some examples will clarify the difference between discrete and

continuous variables.
Suppose the fire department mandates that all fire fighters must
weigh
between 150 and 250 pounds. The weight of a fire fighter would be
an example of a continuous variable;
since a fire fighter's weight could take on any value between 150
and 250 pounds. 10
 Continuous Variable
Okay, so you want to do a study to see if taller people are smarter.
One of the first things that has to be done when designing a study is
to identify your variables. In our study above, height and IQ are the
variables that we are measuring.
Let's say that we want to measure height in inches. Some people
might be 62 inches, and one or two might be 82 inches. And then,
there are a bunch of people in between those two heights.
A continuous variable is one that can take any value between two
numbers.
For example, between 62 and 82 inches, there are a lot of
possibilities: one participant might be 64.03891 inches tall, and
another person might be 72.67025 inches tall. And, there are literally
millions of other possible heights between 62 and 82 inches.
So, how do you know if you've got a continuous variable? In general,
a continuous variable is one that is measured, not counted. Height, for
example, is measured. Weight is measured. Temperature, time,
distance - all are continuous variables. 11
 Discrete Variable
Let's say for a moment that instead of height, you want to measure
how many siblings a person has and see if people with more siblings
have higher IQs. The number of siblings a person has is a discrete
variable, or a variable that has only certain values. For example, a
person isn't going to have 2.34978 siblings; he will have two siblings
or three siblings.
Remember how we said that continuous variables are measured but
not counted? Well, discrete variables are counted. The number of
times heads comes up when you toss a coin, number of students
present in class, number of times a person has attended therapy
sessions - these are all discrete variables.

12
 Point Number -2

If a continuous variable is classified according to

inclusive method,

then certain adjustment in class interval is needed

to obtain continuity as shown below:
Class Intervals Frequency
30—44 28
45—59 32
69—74 45
75—89 50
90—104 35
13
 To Ensure Continuity
• To ensure continuity, first calculate
correction factor as:

Upper limit of second class interval-lower limit of

first class interval/2
Then subtract it from lower limit of all classes and
add it to upper limit of all classes.

14
 Example

Class Intervals Frequency

29.5---44.5 28
44.5---59.5 32
59.5---74.5 45
74.5---89.5 50
89.5---104.5 35

15
 Some Examples
The following set of numbers represents Mutual Fund Prices reported
at the end of a week for selected 40 nationally sold funds:

Arrange these prices into a frequency distribution having a suitable

number of classes
10 17 15 22 11 16 19 24 29 18
25 26 32 14 17 20 23 27 30 12
15 18 24 36 18 15 21 28 33 38
34 13 10 16 20 22 29 29 23 31

16
 Solution

Since the Number of observation is 40, it seems reasonable

to choose 6 class intervals. How it will be done:
2 raise to power 2=2x2=4 =(<40)
2 raise to power 3=2x2x2=8=(<40)
2 raise to power 4=2x2x2x2=16=(<40)
2 raise to power 5=2x2x2x2x2=32=(<40)
2 raise to power 6=2x2x2x2x2x2=64=(>40)
So the class Intervals will be 6 only.

17
Now Range is to be decided (Class Intervals)
In table shown earlier, largest number is 38 and lowest
number in 10, so

So class interval is as shown below

Largest value in the data

h = ------------------------- ∕Number of Classes
Lowest value of the data

So 38-10 =28=4.66=5
------
6
h is the class interval 18
 Now we can make frequency Distribution

Class Interval Tally Frequency

10-15 6
15-20 11
20-25 9
25030 7
30-35 5
35-40 4
Total 40
19
 Expected Question
The take home per day salary of 40 lecturers
of a university as follows:
Construct a frequency distribution having suitable
number of classes.
2482 2392 2499 2412 2440 2444
2446 2540 2394 2365 2412 2458
2482 2394 2450 2444 2440 2494
2460 2425 2500 2390 2414 2365
2390 2460 2422 2500 2470 2428

20