GIS Quiz 4

Data

Raw facts and numbers collected for analysis.

Information

Data that has been organized and structured.

Knowledge

Understanding gained from interpreting data.

Nominal Data

Data that identifies or labels (e.g., country names).

Categorical Data

Grouped nominal data (e.g., political party affiliation).

Ordinal Data

Data with a meaningful order but unknown differences (e.g., rank).

Interval Data

Numeric data with a fixed unit but no meaningful zero (e.g., temperature).

Ratio Data

Numeric data with a meaningful zero, allowing for ratios (e.g., income, population).

Classification

Grouping data into classes for easier interpretation.

Equal Interval Classification

Divides data into equal-sized ranges.

Quantile Classification

Groups data so that each class contains the same number of values.

Natural Breaks (Jenks)

A statistical method that places class breaks where data naturally clusters.

Standard Deviation Classification

Classifies data based on how much it deviates from the mean.

Geometric Interval Classification

Each class is larger than the previous by a fixed ratio.

Manual Classification

The mapmaker sets class breaks based on meaningful thresholds.

Normalization

Adjusting data values to account for area or population size.

Dot Density Map

A map where dots represent quantities, used for ratio data.

Proportional Symbol Map

Symbols (e.g., circles) that scale in size based on data values.

Choropleth Map

A map where areas are shaded based on data values.

Mixed Symbol Map

A map that combines multiple visualization techniques.

Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP)

Changes in geographic unit size or boundaries can alter data interpretation.

Enumeration Unit

The geographic area in which data is grouped (e.g., state, county).

Observation Unit

The smallest level at which data is collected (e.g., individuals in a census).