Before You Watch

Before You Watch

This video will describe the concept of comparing two categorical variables and formally testing whether responses to one variable are associated with responses from another variable. This builds on the Random Variables video where variable types are described, as well as the Visual Displays- Two Variables video where exploratory visual comparisons are described.

Reminder: a categorical variables is one where the possible responses fall into categories. For example, smoking status could be classified as a past or a current smoker.

Some Practice Questions

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Now What?

This video introduced how to determine if two categorical variables are related to each other, and whether that relationship is statistically significant or not. You can look to further develop your understanding of this concept by looking to the Other Links listed below. Alternatively, you can learn about how to determine if two continuous variables are related is covered in Association Between Two Continuous Variables: Correlation.

But When Am I Going to Use This?

Statistics is essential in the study of systems of situations where there is an unpredictable random element. This includes a huge number of situations, such as any system that involves living things, which always have a degree of unpredictability. In fact, any studies that involve people involve statistics: for example, medical processes, education and economics. Other areas statistics can be applied to include quality control, stars, nature, or how wear and tear affects machinery.

Other Links

A YouTube video made by the Statistics Learning Centre in NZ gives an overview of data types using animation that is easy to understand and fun.  Note that numerical data types has been given alternative names.  Interval and ratio data are used instead of discrete and continuous.  It is a slightly different approach but the same principle.

If you really want to understand types of data, along with appropriate statistics and graphs, you can learn on our new Snack-size course. Takes about an hour, and lots of fun!

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