Qualitative data that is categorized and ranked is referred to as what type of data?

Qualitative data that is categorized and ranked is referred to as ordinal data. This type of data goes beyond simple classification as it provides a meaningful order among categories, allowing for comparison in terms of higher or lower rankings. For instance, a survey response scale such as "satisfied," "neutral," and "dissatisfied" demonstrates how ordinal data conveys not just different categories, but also a clear sequence that indicates relative positions of satisfaction.

Nominal data, on the other hand, includes categories without a specific order, such as types of fruits or colors. Discrete data relates to countable quantities, typically in whole numbers, such as the number of students in a class, while continuous data encompasses measurable quantities that can take an infinite number of values within a given range, such as height or weight. By understanding these distinctions, it becomes clear why ordinal data is the correct classification for qualitative data that is both categorized and ranked.