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PHC 6013: Measures
About making measurements
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Continuous variables | Quantified on an infinite scale. Can generate counts, proportions, medians, means, and standard deviations. |
Discrete variables | A scale whose units are limited to integers. Can generate counts, proportions, medians, means, and standard deviations. |
Dichotomous variables | Categorical variables with two possible values |
Nominal variables | Have categories that are not ordered (ex. blood type). Can generate counts and proportions. |
Ordinal variables | Have categories with intervals that are ordered but not quantifiable (ex. degree of pain). Can generate counts, proportions, and medians. |
Dichotomous variables | Categorical variables with two possible values |
Sensitive measurement | Can detect differences in a characteristic that are important to the investigator |
Specific measurement | Represents only the characteristic of interest |
Measurements should be: | 1) Sensitive 2) Specific 3) Appropriate 4) Distribution of responses 5) Objective |