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Flow chart for determining what type of data you're working with

Description

This flow chart is designed to help you determine what type of data you are interested in based on answers to a series of questions. You may also use the series of questions outlined below, where each stage of the flow chart is described by a numbered node with a question that leads to an answer or other nodes:

Node 1

Does the data have an order?

If no, the data type is Qualitative Nominal

If yes, go to Node 2

Node 2

Does the scale have a specific distance between values?

If no, the data type is Ordinal

If yes, go to Node 3

Node 3

Does it have magnitude only?

If no, it is a vector, go to Node 4

If yes, it is a scalar, go to Node 4

Node 4

Does it have a unit of measurement?

If no, go to Node 5a

If yes, go to Node 5b

Node 5a

Does it have a natural zero point?

If yes, it is a Ratio

Node 5b

Does it have a natural zero point?

If no, it is an Interval

If yes, it is Absolute