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categorical

categorical

2 7.5
Relating to groups or types used for sorting
  • adjective
  • /ˈkætəˌɡɔrɪkəl/
  • Specialized
: categorical
  • To compare the characteristics of study participants, we used a chi-square test for categorical variables.
  • categorical variable
  • categorical perception
  • categorical data

And we mean that both on a categorical level.

Examples

  • Results of analyses that investigated categorical dependent variables are reported in Table 2.

    Academic text (2013)
  • The Chi-Square test is used when the research data are in categorical or dichotomous form.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Ratio of the hazard rates between different levels of a categorical variable.

    Academic text (2015)
  • In this lesson, students will demonstrate their understanding of the differences between categorical and numerical data.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Log-linear analysis is a statistical technique that examines the relationships between a series of categorical variables.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Modern constitutional criminal procedure prefers bright-line categorical rules that are "easily administrable" by officers in the field.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Differences between groups are calculated using Pearson chi-square tests for categorical variables and t-tests for means.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The survey classified responses into categorical variables, such as age groups and education levels.

  • Students learned to organize information using categorical data that defines different classifications.

  • In his presentation, he focused on categorical distinctions between various types of scientific research.

Synonyms

categoric
vscategorical
  • Specialized
2 6.7

Relates to putting things into groups for study or comparison

has identical meaning but differs mainly in form or usage
typological
vscategorical
  • Specialized
1 8.0

Relating to grouping things into types by shared features

covers classes or divisions more generally, not only type grouping
categorial
vscategorical
  • Specialized
1 9.6

Relating to groups used to sort ideas, objects, or words

is broader, used for classes generally rather than only technical theory
classificational
vscategorical
1 7.4

To put things into groups by type

describes membership in classes rather than the organizing action

Compounds

1 9.9

A moral rule that applies to everyone and comes from duty, not personal wants or results

Surface Forms

categorical positive

Morphology

categorical = category (transparent) = category + ical

Clear adjectival formation from 'category' using the productive suffix '-ical'; the sense 'relating to categories' is directly derived and easily inferable.

Etymology

Categorical comes from category, which comes from an old Greek word for a 'named group' or 'statement', so you can imagine putting things into clear, labeled boxes. So when something is categorical in this sense it means 'relating to a category' or to a class of things.