Google Data Analytics Professional Certification Practice Test

Which type of qualitative data has a set order or scale?

1. Nominal data

2. Ordinal data

3. Unstructured data

4. External data

The correct answer is: Ordinal data

Ordinal data is characterized by having a clear, defined order or scale among its categories. This means that while the data can be categorized, the categories themselves convey a ranking or sequence, allowing for comparisons based on their order. For example, ratings such as "satisfied," "neutral," and "dissatisfied" guide the analysis by establishing an ordered relationship between the responses. In contrast, nominal data lacks any inherent order; it merely categorizes without ranking—examples include types of fruit or colors. Unstructured data refers to information that does not follow a predefined format or organization, making it difficult to analyze quantitatively. External data can include a variety of data sources but does not inherently describe whether that data is ordered or unstructured. Understanding the nature of ordinal data is crucial in data analytics as it enables analysts to perform certain statistical analyses that are not appropriate for nominal or unstructured data.