Final answer:
The term for data that can be quantified is quantitative data, which may be classified as either discrete or continuous. Quantitative data are numerical and essential for calculations and statistical analysis, unlike qualitative or nominal data that serve merely for categorization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used for data that can be quantified is quantitative data. This type of data results from counting or measuring attributes of a population. Examples include the amount of money, pulse rate, weight, and the number of people living in a town. Quantitative data are always numbers and may be either discrete or continuous. Discrete data can only take specific numerical values, such as the number of phone calls received per day. Continuous data are not limited to certain numerical values and can represent measurements on a continuum, such as duration or weight.
A clear understanding of the different levels of measurement, such as nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales, is crucial for selecting the correct statistical procedures for data analysis. Nominal scale data are qualitative and cannot be ordered nor used in calculations, thereby serving as categories for classification. In contrast, quantitative data can be involved in calculations and statistical operations.