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Measurement

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15 views8 pages

Measurement

Uploaded by

tiyasadey0012
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Measurement

• Definition of measurement
Measurement is the comparison of an unknown quantity with a
known fixed quantity or Measurement is the assignment of a number
to a characteristic of an object or event, which can be compared with
other objects or events
Measurement is a technique in which the properties of an object are
determined by comparing them to a standard quantity. Also,
measurement is the essential metric to express any quantity of
objects, things and events.

• Measurement is the assignment of scores to individuals so that the


scores represent some characteristic of the individuals

• Psychological measurement can be achieved in a wide variety of


Need for measurement in Psychology
• Developing adequate measures is essential for the advancement of
psychology as a science

• Without the ability to adequately measure intended constructs, it is


difficult for scientists to conduct experiments, form theories, or
improve interventions

• The most widely used classification of measurement scales are: (a)


nominal scale; (b) ordinal scale; (c) interval scale; and (d) ratio scale.
Nominal Scale
(a) Nominal scale: Nominal scale is simply a system of assigning number
symbols to events in order to label them
• The usual example of this is the assignment of numbers of basketball
players in order to identify them. Such numbers cannot be considered
to be associated with an ordered scale for their order is of no
consequence; the numbers are just convenient labels for the
particular class of events and as such have no quantitative value.
• Nominal scales provide convenient ways of keeping track of people,
objects and events
• The counting of members in each group is the only possible
arithmetic operation when a nominal scale is employed
Ordinal Scale
• The lowest level of the ordered scale that is commonly used is the ordinal scale
• The ordinal scale places events in order, but there is no attempt to make the
intervals of the scale equal in terms of some rule
• Rank orders represent ordinal scales and are frequently used in research relating
to qualitative phenomena
• A student’s rank in his graduation class involves the use of an ordinal scale.
• Ordinal scales only permit the ranking of items from highest to lowest. Ordinal
measures have no absolute values, and the real differences between adjacent
ranks may not be equal.
• All that can be said is that one person is higher or lower on the scale than
another, but more precise comparisons cannot be made
• The use of an ordinal scale implies a statement of ‘greater than’ or ‘less than’
(an equality statement is also acceptable) without our being able to state how
much greater or less
Interval scale ( Arbitary Zero)
• In the case of interval scale, the intervals are adjusted in terms of some rule that has
been established as a basis for making the units equal
• Interval scales can have an arbitrary zero, but it is not possible to determine for
them what may be called an absolute zero or the unique origin
• The primary limitation of the interval scale is the lack of a true zero; it does not have
the capacity to measure the complete absence of a trait or characteristic
• The Fahrenheit scale is an example of an interval scale and shows similarities in
what one can and cannot do with it. One can say that an increase in temperature
from 30° to 40° involves the same increase in temperature as an increase from 60°
to 70° The ratio of the two temperatures, 30° and 60°, means nothing because zero
is an arbitrary point
• Interval scales provide more powerful measurement than ordinal scales for interval
scale also incorporates the concept of equality of interval.
• As such more powerful statistical measures can be used with interval scales
Ratio Scale

 Ratio scales have an absolute or true zero of measurement


The term ‘absolute zero’ is not as precise as it was once believed to be
 For example, the zero point on a centimeter scale indicates the complete absence of
length or height. But an absolute zero of temperature is theoretically unobtainable
and it remains a concept existing only in the scientist’s mind
 The number of minor traffic-rule violations and the number of incorrect letters in a
page of type script represent scores on ratio scales. Both these scales have absolute
zeros and as such all minor traffic violations and all typing errors can be assumed to
be equal in significance.
With ratio scales involved one can make statements like “Jyoti’s” typing performance
was twice as good as that of “Reetu.” The ratio involved does have significance and
facilitates a kind of comparison which is not possible in case of an interval scale.
Ratio Scale
 Ratio scale represents the actual amounts of variables. Measures of physical dimensions
such as weight, height, distance, etc. are examples. Generally, all statistical techniques are
usable with ratio scales and all manipulations that one can carry out with real numbers can
also be carried out with ratio scale values.

Multiplication and division can be used with this scale but not with other scales mentioned
above
Geometric and harmonic means can be used as measures of central tendency and
coefficients of variation may also be calculated. Thus, proceeding from the nominal scale
(the least precise type of scale) to ratio scale (the most precise), relevant information is
obtained increasingly. If the nature of the variables permits, the researcher should use the
scale that provides the most precise description
Researchers in physical sciences have the advantage to describe variables in ratio scale
form but the behavioural sciences are generally limited to describe variables in interval
scale form, a less precise type of measurement.
Tests
• Reliability
• Validity
• Sensitivity
• Norm

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