Data can be of different types:
Numerical (quantitative)
- Discrete
- Integer; for example counts or dates grouped by year
- Continuous
- Real number; for example height as measured.
Categorical (qualitative)
- Nominal
- Different groups without order; for example dome osteotomy and wedge osteotomy
- Ordinal
- Ordered groups; for example bed ridden, walking with frame, walking with sticks, walking unaided)
- Binary (dichotomous)
- yes / no ; true / false ; dead / alive
The appropriate type of statistical analysis depends on the type of data.
What type of plot is appropriate depends mainly on the type of data to be presented.