Final answer:
The response to the Gallup Poll question regarding whether things have improved or worsened is an ordinal variable, which categorizes responses in a meaningful sequence without precise mathematical intervals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Gallup Poll question about the perceived improvement or deterioration of the country in the last five years represents an ordinal variable. This type of variable involves responses that can be ranked or ordered, where the positions hold a meaningful sequence, but the intervals lack a specific mathematical interpretation. In the context of the question, responses are organized in a sequence such as 'gotten much better,' 'gotten somewhat better,' 'remained about the same,' 'gotten somewhat worse,' or 'gotten much worse.
' While there is a clear order, the intervals between these responses are not quantifiable in a precise mathematical sense, distinguishing ordinal data from interval or ratio data. This understanding is crucial for accurately interpreting and analyzing survey results, recognizing the limitations inherent in ordinal variables when compared to more precise measurement scales.