converting factors to quantitative variables

[user124578]

Hi

I need to convert factors to quantitative variables. What is the best method to use in R please?

Many Thanks

[martin.R]

Just convert the factor to a number:

f <- factor(c("c", "a", "b"))
as.numeric(f)

[phiggins]

If you have numeric items in a vector that is stored as a factor, it is a bit problematic, but you can get the numbers back.

f <- factor(c(17, 9, 27, 36)) # make a factor

as.numeric(f) 
#> [1] 2 1 3 4
# that does not work right - provides levels, not the actual numbers

as.character(f) # recovers labels - but as character strings
#> [1] "17" "9"  "27" "36"

as.numeric(as.character(f)) # converts to numeric
#> [1] 17  9 27 36

^{Created on 2019-11-12 by the reprex package (v0.3.0)}