
Chapter 3
Tests for Categorical Data
A categorical variable is measured on the ordinal scale if the categories have natural
ordering. For example, size (XS, S, M, L, XL), health (poor, fair, good, excellent),
grades (A, B, C, D, F), education (less than high school, high school graduate, above
high school). A variable measured on an ordinal scale is referred to as an ordinal
variable.
A categorical variable is measured on the nominal scale if there is no natural order-
ing to the categories (they can be treated as names). For instance, opinion (yes, no,
don’t know), political affiliation (democrat, republican, independent, other), religious
affiliation ...