Explain the 'exclusive' and 'inclusive' methods used in classification of data.
Exclusive Method - In this method, the classes are formed in such a way that the upper class limit of one class becomes the lower class limit of the next class. Continuity of the data is maintained in this method. Under this method, the upper class limit is excluded but the lower class limit of a class is included in the interval.
According to this method, an observation that is exactly equal to the upper class limit would not be included in that class but would be included in the next class. On the other hand, if it were equal to the lower class limit then it would be included in that class. e.g., if in class intervals are 0-5, 5-10, 15- 20 and so on, a value of 10 would be included in the interval 10-15 and not in the interval 5-10.
Inclusive Method - The inclusive method does not exclude the upper class limit in a class interval. Itincludess the upper class in a class. Thus, both class limits are parts of the class interval. e.g., the class intervals 6-10, 11-15, and so on are inclusive.