Types of data

Data are nonparametric (discrete) or parametric (continuous). Nonparametric nominal data are arbitrary categories with no order - including dichotomous/binary (lived/died, yes/no) and categorical without order (race, eye color, blood type, disease type). Nonparametric ordinal data are categories scored on a continuum without a consistent magnitude of difference between ranks (pain scale, NYHA class, coma score, trauma score). Parametric (continuous/measuring) data have order AND a consistent magnitude of difference between units (drug concentrations, glucose, FEV1, heart rate, blood pressure).

📖 “Nonparametric: nominal (arbitrary categories, dichotomous yes/no) and ordinal (ranked, no consistent magnitude - pain scale, NYHA). Parametric (continuous): order + consistent magnitude (drug levels, glucose, BP).”