GIS Quiz 4

Vocabulary List

1. Data – Raw facts and numbers collected for analysis.

2. Information – Data that has been organized and structured.

3. Knowledge – Understanding gained from interpreting data.

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

5. Categorical Data – Grouped nominal data (e.g., political party affiliation).

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

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

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

9. Classification – Grouping data into classes for easier interpretation.

10. Equal Interval Classification – Divides data into equal-sized ranges.

11. Quantile Classification – Groups data so that each class contains the same number of values.

12. Natural Breaks (Jenks) – A statistical method that places class breaks where data naturally clusters.

13. Standard Deviation Classification – Classifies data based on how much it deviates from the mean.

14. Geometric Interval Classification – Each class is larger than the previous by a fixed ratio.

15. Manual Classification – The mapmaker sets class breaks based on meaningful thresholds.

16. Normalization – Adjusting data values to account for area or population size.

17. Dot Density Map – A map where dots represent quantities, used for ratio data.

18. Proportional Symbol Map – Symbols (e.g., circles) that scale in size based on data values.

19. Choropleth Map – A map where areas are shaded based on data values.

20. Mixed Symbol Map – A map that combines multiple visualization techniques.

21. Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) – Changes in geographic unit size or boundaries can alter data interpretation.

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

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