Which term is used for data that expresses ranked order of items based on criteria?

• A. Ordinal data
• B. Discrete data
• C. Bar graph
• D. Likert scale

Answer: (A)

Understanding ranked order data means recognizing data that show which items are higher or lower according to a criterion, without assuming equal spacing between the ranks. This is ordinal data. It allows you to say that one item is ranked above another, but it doesn’t quantify the exact difference between ranks. For example, ranking patient urgency as high, medium, or low, or using a 1–5 satisfaction scale where higher numbers indicate more satisfaction, both convey order but not equal intervals. Discrete data refer to counts or distinct values, not an inherent order of items; a bar graph is a chart type, not a data category. So the term that best fits data expressing ranked order based on criteria is ordinal data.