to classify / a classification

To classify things means to divide them into different groups and give each group a name. So, when some items are classified as ‘antiques’ it means an expert has decided that they belong in the group called ‘antiques’ and they can be labelled as antiques. The process of dividing things into groups is classification and the groups that are formed as a result are classifications of the data. So, for example, traditionally, living things have been classified as either plants or animals, but nowadays a number of more complex classifications are used.

Items classified as ‘antiques’ in the auction catalogue were later found to be less than one year old.

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a category / to categorize

A category is a separate part of a system, which has its own name. So, in the Oscars, there are a number of different categories for acting: Best actor, Best supporting actor etc. If you divide something into different parts, you categorise (or ‘categorize’) it.

Research is often categorised as ‘qualitative’ or ‘quantitative’ but frequently it uses elements of each approach. 

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