The State Education Department requires local school districts to keep these records on all students: age, race or ethnicity, days absent, current grade level, standardized test scores in reading and mathematics, and any disabilities or special educational needs the student may have.

Question

Which of the following are categorical (or qualitative) variables in these records?
Disabilities or Special Needs
Age
Race or Ethnicity
Reading Test Score
Current Grade Level
Mathematics Test Score
Days Absent
Student Name

Answer 1

Categorical (or qualitative) variables represent distinct categories or groups and do not inherently have a numerical value. Based on the list provided, the categorical variables are:

1. Disabilities or Special Needs - This variable can be categorized based on the types of disabilities or needs.
2. Race or Ethnicity - This variable classifies students into different racial or ethnic groups.
3. Current Grade Level - Although this is often represented by a number, it categorizes students into distinct grade levels (e.g., 1st grade, 2nd grade, etc.).

The remaining variables are quantitative:

• Age - A numerical value representing how old the student is.
• Reading Test Score - A numerical value representing performance on a test.
• Mathematics Test Score - A numerical value representing performance on a test.
• Days Absent - A numerical value indicating how many days the student was absent.
• Student Name - While it represents an individual, it is typically treated as nominal data rather than categorical for analysis.

So, the categorical variables from your list are:

• Disabilities or Special Needs
• Race or Ethnicity
• Current Grade Level