Marketing Research and Insight Glossary

Definitions, common uses and explanations of 1,500+ key market research terms and phrases.

What is a Categorical Scale?

Research Topics:
Quantitative Research | Questionnaire Analysis
Content Type:
Glossary
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Categorical Scale Definition

A scale that divides responses into categories that are not numerically related.

A categorical scale is a measurement used to categorize data into distinct, non-overlapping categories or groups that are not numerically related. It represents data in which responses are grouped into predefined categories. The scales provide structured insights into customer behavior, which assists with segmenting target audiences, measuring brand perception and identifying market trends. 

Who relies on categorical scales?

Marketing professionals, researchers and analysts use categorical scales to classify responses, preferences, opinions or attributes of individuals. That allows those marketing professionals to make decisions based on the data.

Why should I care about categorical scales?

Understanding how to use a categorical scale is crucial because it provides information about customer preferences, opinions and trends. Those insights help tailor marketing strategies, develop products and make choices.