Conceptual doubt on Categorical variable

[Deepak k]

In statistics, week 1 graded assignment_ Question 7. How Name and suggestions are considered as a categorical variable? How could we categorize the name and suggestions with respect to the data set.?

I am aware that Name is interpreted as nominal(a type of categorical data) in the video. But logically I felt that doesn't make sense with respect to the given dataset.

Please let me know the answer.

[Kalpana T J]

I too have the same question. To me, only "Shoe Material", "Purpose" and "Price Range" look like categorical variables.

Thanks

Kalpana

[Statistics 1 Support 1]

Hi,

Name is a categorical variable since name is varying from person to person.

Suggestions is an unstructured data and hence it is not classified as variable.

Regards,

Mayur,

Content Support Team,

IITM Onlinedegree 

[Kalpana T J]

Name varies from person to person and is not a set of categories to be called a categorical variable. Can you please check with Prof Usha Mohan for the correct answer to this question?

From what we understood from her lectures, it has to be 3.

Thanks

Kalpana

[Deepak k]

I support kalpana's argument.I believe that it should be 3.

Name is varying from person to person implies it is a just a variable right..

Categorical variable is a type of variable.

Techninally, it isnt giving a physical meaning for categorizing data on name where all the datamembers are distinct.

Also, if the suggestions is unstructured and not a variable how could we account it for categorical variable.

Please let us know.

Thanks and regards

Deepak

[Kalpana T J]

In fact, "suggestions" is also a variable, but with unstructured data. Only "Shoe Material", "Purpose" and "Price Range" satisfy the definition of a categorical variable. Request the support team to kindly get in touch with the Professor and let us know her inputs.

Thanks

Kalpana