Continuous data: Which statement correctly describes this type of data?

Continuous data: Which statement correctly describes this type of data?

• A. Dichotomous data can take any value including fractions.
• B. Continuous data can take any value including fractions.
• C. Ordinal data have two possible options.
• D. Categorical data can be measured on a numeric scale.

Answer: (B)

Continuous data represent measurements that can take any value within a range, down to any level of precision. Because you can measure with fractions, these values include decimals such as 170.2 cm or 3.1415 seconds. That makes the statement describing continuous data as capable of taking any value including fractions the best fit. Dichotomous data, by contrast, has only two possible values (yes/no, true/false). Ordinal data consist of ordered categories but aren’t defined by equal intervals, so they aren’t about numbers with fractional options. Categorical data are labels or names; even when coded with numbers, they’re not measured on a numeric scale with meaningful numeric distances.

Continuous data represent measurements that can take any value within a range, down to any level of precision. Because you can measure with fractions, these values include decimals such as 170.2 cm or 3.1415 seconds. That makes the statement describing continuous data as capable of taking any value including fractions the best fit. Dichotomous data, by contrast, has only two possible values (yes/no, true/false). Ordinal data consist of ordered categories but aren’t defined by equal intervals, so they aren’t about numbers with fractional options. Categorical data are labels or names; even when coded with numbers, they’re not measured on a numeric scale with meaningful numeric distances.