Understanding Variables and Measures

Name:

Date:

📚 Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. What type of variable is favourite sport?

Categorical (nominal)

Categorical (ordinal)

Numerical (discrete)

Numerical (continuous)

2. The number of books a student reads in a month is best described as:

Numerical (discrete)

Numerical (continuous)

Categorical (nominal)

Categorical (ordinal)

3. Which summary is most appropriate for favourite ice cream flavour?

Mean

Median

Mode

Standard deviation

4. For a skewed distribution of household incomes (in $), which measure of central tendency is usually best?

Mean

Median

Mode

Interquartile range (IQR)

5. Check all that are measures of variation:

Range

Mean

Standard deviation

Mode

✏️ Part 2: Short Answers and Application

6. Match the variable (left) with its correct type (right). Draw a line or write the matching letter/number.

A. Student year level

B. Height in centimetres

C. Satisfaction rating (1–5)

D. Favourite colour

1. Numerical (continuous)

2. Categorical (nominal)

3. Categorical (ordinal)

4. Numerical (discrete)

7. Calculate the mean, median and range for the heights (cm): 150, 162, 158, 171, 149. Show your working.

Which single measure would you report to represent a typical student height here? Explain your choice briefly (1–2 sentences).

8. For the satisfaction ratings (1–5): 4, 3, 5, 4, 2, 4, 3 — find the mode and the median. Which measure is more appropriate for ordinal data and why?

9. You plan to collect data on time spent on homework (hours, continuous). Which measures of central tendency and variation will you plan to use and why? (Brief justification.)

10. Exit reflection — In one sentence, write one thing you learned today. In one sentence, write one question you still have.