Marketing Research and Insight Glossary

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

What is a Continuous Variable?

Research Topics:
Data Analysis
Content Type:
Glossary
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Continuous Variable Definition

A quantitative variable that can assume an infinite number of values associated with the numbers on a line interval. Normally continuous variables are the result of some measurement process. For example, grade point average is a continuous variable because it can assume any value between 0.0 and 4.0.

A continuous variable is quantitative data that can take on any value within a specific range. It can be measured and divided into smaller units, with no distinct gaps between values. Often, it can represent attributes that can be measured with precision, such as age, income, time and spending amounts. For instance, grade point average is a continuous variable because it can assume any value between 0 and 4. Continuous variables provide a higher level of detail and precision in marketing analysis because they permit a higher level of sophisticated statistical analyses. That allows researchers to uncover correlations, trends and patterns that might not be apparent with categorical data alone.

Who relies on continuous variables?

Marketing analysts, researchers and decision makers use continuous variables to understand customer behavior, preferences and trends. What’s more, businesses use them to segment target audiences, analyze market trends and make strategic decisions.

Why should I care about continuous variables?

Continuous variables can lead marketing professionals to discover meaningful insights. By analyzing variables, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of customer demographics, purchasing patterns and preferences. This knowledge can be used to enhance marketing strategies, optimize product offerings and allocate resources effectively.