Categorical data

Categorical data sorts items into named groups. A survey asking pupils how they travel to school might use the categories walk, bus, car and cycle. Although the categories are not numerical measurements, the number of pupils in each category is numerical.

Categorical data sorts observations into named groups. Examples include favourite fruit, eye colour or method of travel. The categories do not measure an amount: even if they are given number codes, those numbers may only be labels.

Categorical data sort observations into named groups. Examples include favourite fruit, eye colour and method of travelling to school. Even if a category is given a code such as 1, 2 or 3, those codes do not become measured numerical values.