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Quantitative Techniques – I

Notes
Did u know? Different classes are said to be mutually exclusive if they are non-overlapping.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:

1. The collected data are a complex and unorganised mass of figures which is very difficult to
..................... and ........................
2. In order to apply the tools of analysis and interpretation, it is essential that the data are
arranged in a ............................ form.
3. ........................ is the process of arranging the available data into various homogeneous
classes and sub-classes according to some common characteristics or objective of
investigation.

4. A classification is said to be .......................... if there is no item that cannot be allotted a class.
5. Different classes are said to be mutually exclusive if they are ...................................

2.2 Types of Classification

The nature of classification depends upon the purpose and objective of investigation. The
following are some very common types of classification:
1. Geographical (or spatial) classification: When the data are classified according to
geographical location or region, it is called a geographical classification.

2. Chronological classification: When the data are classified on the basis of its time of
occurrence, it is called a chronological classification. Various time series such as; National
Income figures (annual), annual output of wheat, monthly expenditure of a household,
daily consumption of milk, etc., are some examples of chronological classification.
3. Conditional classification: When the data are classified according to certain conditions,
other than geographical or chronological, it is called a conditional classification.
4. Qualitative classification or classification according to attributes: When the characteristics
of the data are non-measurable, it is called a qualitative data. The examples of non-
measurable characteristics are sex of a person, marital status, colour, honesty, intelligence,
etc. These characteristics are also known as attributes. When qualitative data are given,
various items can be classified into two or more groups according to a characteristic. If the
data are classified only into two categories according to the presence or absence of an
attribute, the classification is termed as dichotomous or twofold classification. On the
other hand, if the data are classified into more than two categories according to an attribute,
it is called a manifold classification. For example, classification of various students of a
college according to the colour of their eyes like black, brown, grey, blue, etc. The conditional
classification, given above, is also an example of a manifold classification.
If the classification is done according to a single attribute, it is known as a one-way
classification. On the other hand, the classification done according to two or more attributes
is known as a two-way or multiway classification respectively. The example of a three-
way classification, where population is dichotomised according to each attribute; sex,
honesty and smoking habit, is given below:

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