REASON FOR USING FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE TO ANALYZE CATEGORICAL DATA

Abstract

Frequency and percentage are among the most commonly used descriptive statistical techniques for analysing categorical data. This article examines the reasons for using frequency and percentage to analyse categorical data regardless of the academic degree or level of a researcher. It also discusses the use of a 50% benchmark when interpreting responses collected through non-Likert and Likert-type response formats, while emphasizing that the benchmark should be treated as a descriptive decision rule rather than as a universal statistical test. Frequency shows how often each category occurs, whereas percentage expresses the proportion of the total represented by each category, making findings easier to understand and compare.