← VCE Data Analysis

Quantitative data

Numerical data that can be counted (discrete, like number of students) or measured (continuous, like temperature) and used in calculations, such as ages, scores and temperatures.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 3, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 58, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 3, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 9, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 4

Understanding Quantitative data in VCE Data Analysis

What it does: AVERAGE only works on numerical data, so it shows that quantitative data can be used in calculations. Quantitative data uses numbers. Descriptive data about opinions and feelings is qualitative data. Goals are counted in whole numbers (you can't score 2.5 goals), so this is discrete data. Temperature is measured and can take any value on a scale, including decimals, so it is continuous data. Hair colour is a description (qualitative). Age is a number that can be measured and calculated with.

Common mistakes: The average (mean) of quantitative data is the total divided by the count, so it should be total / count. Students who are present are found by subtracting the absent count from the total, so it should be students - absent. Counts are quantitative data and can be used in calculations.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 3–14) and word search (Modules 3–24).

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Learning

Duo

Which is an example of quantitative data?

A student's favourite subject: MathsThe number of students in a class: 28

Matches

Quantitative data: eye colour = blue

↓

Eye colour is a description (qualitative data), not a number that is counted or measured, so it is not quantitative

Applying

Meanings

Term

Quantitative data

Meaning

Numerical data that can be counted (discrete, like number of students) or measured (continuous, like temperature) and used in calculations, such as ages, scores and temperatures.

Practice

=COUNT(A2:A30)

Testing

Gaps

=(B2:B30)

Check Answer

Spots

3count = len(ages)

4average = total * count

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Quick Questions

1. Which is an example of quantitative data?

A. The number of students in a class: 28 ✓

B. A student's favourite subject: Maths

Quantitative data is numerical. A count of students is a number you can use in calculations, while a favourite subject is a category or opinion.

2. Quantitative data is best described as...

A. Numerical data that can be counted or measured ✓

B. Descriptive data about opinions and feelings

Quantitative data uses numbers. Descriptive data about opinions and feelings is qualitative data.

3. The number of goals scored in a footy match is which type of quantitative data?

A. Continuous (measured)

B. Discrete (counted) ✓

Goals are counted in whole numbers (you can't score 2.5 goals), so this is discrete data.

4. A sensor records the temperature of a room as 22.6 degrees. What type of quantitative data is this?

A. Discrete (counted)

B. Continuous (measured) ✓

Temperature is measured and can take any value on a scale, including decimals, so it is continuous data.

5. Which data can be used in calculations such as finding an average?

A. Test scores: 72, 85, 91 ✓

B. Interview comments: 'It was fine'

Quantitative data like test scores can be added and averaged. Written comments are qualitative and cannot be averaged.

Match the Pairs

students = 28 → Discrete quantitative data: a count of whole items that cannot be split into fractions

temperature = 23.7 → Continuous quantitative data: a measurement that can take any value on a scale, including decimals

Quantitative data can be used in calculations, such as finding an average score → =AVERAGE(B2:B30)

Quantitative data can be counted, such as how many students scored over 50 → =COUNTIF(B2:B30,">50")

Quantitative data: eye colour = blue → Eye colour is a description (qualitative data), not a number that is counted or measured, so it is not quantitative

Discrete data: height = 172.5 cm → Height is measured and can have decimals, so it is continuous data, not discrete data

Key Term

Quantitative data

Numerical data that can be counted (discrete, like number of students) or measured (continuous, like temperature) and used in calculations, such as ages, scores and temperatures.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =AVERAGE(B2:B30)

Hint: Type the function that finds the mean of the test scores in the range.

2. =COUNT(A2:A30)

Hint: Type the function that counts how many cells hold numbers, such as a discrete count of students.

3. =MAX(C2:C20)

Hint: Type the function that returns the highest measured temperature in the range.

4. =MAX(C2:C20)-MIN(C2:C20)

Hint: Type the operator that finds the difference between the highest and lowest temperature.

5. =SUM(B2:B30)/COUNT(B2:B30)

Hint: Type the function that adds up all the numbers, so the total can be divided by the count to get a mean.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A ages = [15, 16, 16, 17]

B total = sum(ages)

C count = len(ages)

D average = total * count

Line D — The average (mean) of quantitative data is the total divided by the count, so it should be total / count.

Question 2

A students = 28

B absent = 3

C present = students + absent

Line C — Students who are present are found by subtracting the absent count from the total, so it should be students - absent. Counts are quantitative data and can be used in calculations.

Question 3

A temps = [18.5, 21.0, 19.5]

B highest = max(temps)

C lowest = max(temps)

Line C — The lowest temperature needs min(temps). max() finds the highest value.

Question 4

A score = "87"

B bonus = 5

C total = score + bonus

D print(total)

Line A — Quotes make 87 a string (text), not a number, so it can't be used in calculations. Quantitative data should be stored as a number: score = 87.

Question 5

A measure = "temperature"

B counted = False

C kind = "discrete"

D print(kind)

Line C — Temperature is measured, not counted, so it is continuous quantitative data. Discrete data is counted, like the number of students.

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