What type of variable is “types of dogs” classified as?

Prepare for UofT's PSY201 Statistics I Midterm. Study with detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions, each complete with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

The classification of "types of dogs" as a nominal variable is correct because nominal variables are used to categorize data without any inherent order or ranking among the categories. In this case, different breeds of dogs (such as Labrador, Poodle, and Beagle) represent distinct categories that cannot be ordered in a meaningful way. Each type of dog does not carry any numerical value or represent a quantitative measure, which is a key characteristic of nominal variables.

In contrast, continuous variables represent measurable quantities that can take on an infinite number of values within a given range, such as height or weight. Ordinal variables involve categories with a meaningful order, like a ranking scale (e.g., satisfaction ratings from 1 to 5), where the distance between ranks is not necessarily equal. Interval variables have ordered categories with meaningful distances between values but lack a true zero point, such as temperature in degrees Celsius. Thus, “types of dogs” aligns perfectly with the definition of a nominal variable.

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