Data that holds categorical values is referred to as what type of data?

Data that holds categorical values is referred to as qualitative data. This type of data is characterized by non-numeric categories or labels that are used to describe characteristics or traits. For instance, data representing colors, names, or types of animals falls into this category because it does not measure quantities but rather classifies or describes a quality or characteristic.

Qualitative data can further be categorized into nominal and ordinal data. Nominal data has no specific order (e.g., types of fruits), while ordinal data has a defined order or ranking (e.g., survey responses like "satisfied," "neutral," or "dissatisfied"). However, the primary characteristic that distinguishes qualitative data is that it deals with categories rather than numbers.

In contrast, quantitative data pertains to numerical values and can be measured, allowing for calculations and statistical analysis. Descriptive data generally refers to data used to summarize or describe various attributes, rather than specifying a type of data. Therefore, for data that consists of categorical values, qualitative data is the appropriate term.