GCSE Maths Revision
Data Types - all you need to know!
Data is information collected for statistical purposes. There are many different types of data that can be used to record all different kinds of information. Some of the key data types that you must understand for your GCSE Maths examination are:
Continuous data - this is data which can be shown in decimals, for example, the weights of 10 children in a class.
Discrete data - this is data which is written in numbers but can not include decimals - must be whole numbers. For example, the number of dogs owned by a family.
Qualitative data - this is data which is written in words rather than numbers. This could be anything from the colours of balloons in a ball pit, to opinions of the school dinners.
Quantitative data - this is numerical data and therefore written in numbers. This could be the heights of adults in a workplace.
Primary data - this is data that is collected from the original source with a specified purpose. For example, finding out whether staff are happy with the workplace conditions - asking them directly would be primary data.
Secondary data - data that is not initially collected with a specific purpose but is used later on to gather data on something.
There are many different types of data that you will need to analyse and evaluate as part of your GCSE Maths examination. It is important that you understand the differences and understand the ways in which these different types of data can be stored. Take a look at our songs on pie charts, bar charts and frequency tables for ideas about how data can be usefully stored. For more information about the different data types, have a listen to our revision songs, found in our maths section, specifically targeting data types.
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