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Levels of Measurement

The document outlines four levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal measurement classifies data into non-overlapping categories without order, while ordinal allows for ranking but lacks precise differences. Interval measurement has meaningful differences without a true zero, and ratio measurement includes all characteristics of interval with a true zero and meaningful ratios.

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6 views10 pages

Levels of Measurement

The document outlines four levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal measurement classifies data into non-overlapping categories without order, while ordinal allows for ranking but lacks precise differences. Interval measurement has meaningful differences without a true zero, and ratio measurement includes all characteristics of interval with a true zero and meaningful ratios.

Uploaded by

riahyu88
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Levels of

Measurement
Nominal
• The nominal level of measurement classifies
data into mutually exclusive
(nonover_x0002_lapping) categories in which no
order or ranking can be imposed on the data.
Nominal
A sampleof college instructors classified according to subject
taught (e.g., English, history, psychology, or mathematics) is an
example of nominal-level measurement. Classifying survey
subjects as male or female is another example of nominal-
level measurement.No ranking or order can be placed on the
data. Classifying residents according to zip codes is also an
example of the nominal level of measurement. Even though
numbers are assigned as zip codes, there is no meaningful
order or ranking. Other examples of nominal-level data are
political party (Democratic, Republican, Independent, etc.),
reli_x0002_gion (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc.), and marital
status (single, married, divorced, widowed, separated).
Ordinal
The ordinal level of measurement classifies
data into categories that can be ranked;
however, precise differences between the
ranks do not exist.
Ordinal
Data measured at this level can be placed into
categories, and these categories can be ordered, or
ranked. For exam_x0002_ple, from student evaluations,
guest speakers might be ranked as superior, average,
orpoor. Floats in a homecoming parade might be
ranked as first place, second place, etc.Note that
precise measurement of differences in the ordinal level
of measurement does notexist. For instance, when
people are classified according to their build (small,
medium, orlarge), a large variation exists among the
individuals in each class.
Interval
The interval level of measurement ranks
data, and precise differences between units
of measure do exist; however, there is no
meaningful zero.
Interval
This level differs from the ordinal level in that precise
differences do exist between units. For example, many
standardized psychological tests yield values measured on an
interval scale. IQ is an example of such a variable. There is a
meaningful difference of 1 point between an IQ of 109 and an
IQ of 110. Temperature is another example of interval
measurement, since there is a meaningful difference of 1
degree F between each unit, such as 72 and 73F. One property
is lacking in the interval scale: There is no true zero. For
example, IQ tests donot measure people who have no
intelligence. For temperature, 0F does not mean no heat at all.
Ratio
The ratio level of measurement possesses all the
characteristics of interval measurement, and there
exists a true zero. In addition, true ratios exist when the
same variable is measured on two different members
of the population.
Ratio
Examples of ratio scales are those used to measure
height, weight, area, and number of phone calls
received. Ratio scales have differences between units (1
inch, 1 pound, etc.) and a true zero. In addition, the
ratio scale contains a true ratio between values. For
example, if one person can lift 200 pounds and another
can lift 100 pounds, then the ratio between them is 2
to 1. Put another way, the first person can lift twice as
much as the second person.
Classify each as nominal-level, ordinal-level, interval_x0002_level, or ratio-level
measurement.
a. Pages in the 25 best-selling mystery novels. Interval
b. Rankings of golfers in a tournament. Ordinal
c. Temperatures inside 10 pizza ovens. Interval
d. Weights of selected cell phones. Ratio
e. Salaries of the coaches in the NFL. Interval
f. Times required to complete a chess game. Ratio
g. Ratings of textbooks (poor, fair, good,
excellent). Ordinal
h. Number of amps delivered by battery chargers. Ratio
i. Ages of children in a day care center. Ratio
j. Categories of magazines in a physician’s office
(sports, women’s, health, men’s, news). Nominal

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