What type of variable is alcohol consumption?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We begin by restating the question and options to set the stage for analysis:
Question: What type of variable is alcohol consumption?
Options: a. Ordinal, b. Discrete, c. Continuous, d. Nominal

Option a: Ordinal. This would imply that alcohol consumption has a meaningful order with equal intervals between categories (e.g., 'low', 'medium', 'high'). If the data are simply categories without a natural 0 or equal spacing, this is not the best fit. In many analyses, consumption levels can be ordered, but the classic classification of a single 'type' of variable like this commonly treats it as more than just an ordered scale, depending on measurement. The statement is therefore not universally correct for the general concept of alcohol consumption as a variable type.

Option b: Discrete. A discrete variable takes on separate, distinct values (often counts: 0, 1, 2, ...). If alcohol consumption is recorded as the exact number of drinks (an integer count), it would be discrete. However, if the data are categorized (e.g., not drinking, light, moderate, heavy) or are measured in ranges, discreteness alone may not apply. The claim is conditionally true only under a counting measurement, not a universal descriptor of the concept.

Option c: Continuous. A continuous variable can take any value within a range (e.g., exact grams of alcohol, milliliters, or drinks per day with decimals). If alcohol consumption is recorded with precise measurements (e.g., volume consumed), this could be continuous. Yet, many datasets categorize consumption into bands, which would not be truly continuous. Thus this option is not universally correct for all measurement approaches to alcohol use, depending on how the data are collected.

Option d: Nominal. Nominal variables are categories with no intrinsic order (e.g., drinker vs. non-drinker, types of alcoholic beverages). If the measurement is done by broad categories or by labels without a natural ranking, nominal fits best. The phrase "type of variable" commonly encountered in survey data about consumption aligns with labeling categories rather than implying numeric ordering or exact counts. Therefore, this option is often the most accurate description when alcohol consumption is categorized into groups without a natural order.

In summary, the accuracy of each option hinges on how alcohol consumption is measured. If the data are simple categories without order, nominal is appropriate. If the data are exact counts, discrete applies. If precise measurements are available, continuous could apply. If there is a meaningful order among categories or values, ordinal might fit. The provided correct option aligns with the typical interpretation when consumption is captured as labeled categories rather than precise counts or continuous measurements.

NUT1002 S2 2025 AT2: Midsemester quiz (10%)

What type of variable is alcohol consumption?

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