Page 115 - DLIS401_METHODOLOGY_OF_RESEARCH_AND_STATISTICAL_TECHNIQUES

Methodology of Research and Statistical Techniques

Notes Table 7.1 gives the data for class-wise attendance of students. Here the data comprise 7 observations
in all. These observations are, attendance for class VI, VII, and so on. So, data refers to the set
of observations, values, elements or objects hder consideration.
The complete set of all possible elements or objects is called a population. Each of the elements
is called a piece of data. Data also refers to the known facts or things used as basis for
inference or reckoning facts, information, material to be processed or stored.

7.1.8 Nature of Data

For understanding the nature of data, it becomes necessary to study about the various forms
of data, as shown below :
• Qualitative and Quantitative Data
• Continuous and Discrete Data
• Primary and Secondary Data
Qualitative and Quantitative Data
Let us consider a set of data given in Table 7.2.

Table 7.2 Management-wise Number of Schools
Management No. of Schools
Government 4
Local Body 8
Private Aided 10
Private Unaided 2
Total 24

In Table 7.2, number of schools have been shown according to the management of schools. So
the schools have been classified into 4 categories, namely, Government Schools, Local Body
Schools, Private Aided Schools and Private Unaided Schools. A given school belongs to any
one of the four categories. Such data is shown as Categorical or Qualitative Data. Here the
category or the quality referred to is management. Thus categorical or qualitative data result
from information which has been classified into categories. Such categories are listed alphabetically
or in order of decreasing frequencies or in some other conventional way. Each piece of data
clearly belongs to one classification or category.
We frequently come across categorical or qualitative data in the form of schools categorised
according to Boys, Girls and Co-educational; Students’ Enrolment categorised according to SC,
ST, OBC and ‘Others’; number of persons employed in various categories of occupations, and
so on.
Let us consider another set of data given in Table 7.3.
Table 7.3 Number of Schools according to Enrolment

Enrolment No. of Schools
Upto 50 6
51–100 15
101–200 12
201–300 8
Above 300 4
Total 45

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