A variable in which cases are placed into independent, separate categories is known as which type of variable?

• A. Categorical variable
• B. Continuous variable
• C. Ordinal variable
• D. Interval variable

Answer: (A)

Categorical variables are used when you classify cases into distinct, non-overlapping groups. The data are labels rather than numeric measurements, and each case fits into one category without implying any quantity or order. This fits the description because the categories are independent and separate.

If you compare with other types: continuous variables can take any numeric value on a spectrum (like height or temperature). An ordinal variable has a meaningful order among categories (for example: small, medium, large), but the intervals between steps aren’t necessarily equal. Interval variables have equal intervals between values but no true zero (for example, Celsius temperature). Because the description emphasizes independent, separate categories with no inherent ordering, the appropriate type is a categorical variable.