Exercise: Variables from the 2005 M.Sc. Questionnaire

In this exercise, we shall look at some of the variables collected using the 2005 M.Sc. questionnaire.

The following table shows the employment status of respondents:

Employment status	Frequency	Percentage
full time employed	92	50.6
part time employed	25	13.7
student	32	17.6
retired	10	5.5
self-employed	12	6.6
unemployed	2	1.1
homemaker	9	5.0
Total	182	100.0

Question 1. What kind of variable is employment status?

Check suggested answer 1.

The following table shows answers to the question ‘How would you describe your health?’:

Health status	Frequency	Percentage
Excellent	58	31.7
Good	100	54.6
Fair	25	13.7
Poor	0	0.0
Total	183	100.0

Question 2. What kind of variable is health status?

Check suggested answer 2.

The following table shows answers to the question ‘Are you currently taking any prescribed medication?’:

Taking medication?	Frequency	Percentage
Yes	69	37.7
No	114	62.3
Total	183	100.0

Question 3. What kind of variable is ‘taking medication’?

Check suggested answer 3.

The following table shows answers to the question ‘How many units of alcohol do you usually drink in a week?’:

Alcohol	Frequency	Percentage
0	30	16.9
1	13	7.3
2	14	7.9
3	12	6.7
4	18	10.1
5	12	6.7
6	8	4.5
7	2	1.1
8	6	3.4
10	16	9.0
11	1	0.6
12	5	2.8
14	9	5.1
15	5	2.8
16	2	1.1
17	1	0.6
18	1	0.6
20	11	6.2
21	1	0.6
22	1	0.6
24	1	0.6
25	2	1.1
26	1	0.6
28	1	0.6
30	1	0.6
36	1	0.6
40	1	0.6
45	1	0.6
50	1	0.6
Total	178	100.0

Question 4. What kind of variable is this?

Check suggested answer 4.

Question 5. What measurement problem does self-reported alcohol consumption illustrate?

Check suggested answer 5.

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Last updated: 10 October, 2006.

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