Lesson 2: Levels of Measurement

Lesson Objectives. At the end of the lessons in chapter II, the students should be able to:
1. Learn and identify the levels of measurement
2. Know how to distinguish which level of measurement variables have

Theoretically, a measuring scale can have one or more of the following mathematical
attributes: magnitude, an equal interval between adjacent units, and an absolute zero
point. Four types of scales are commonly encountered in the behavioral sciences:
nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. They differ in the number of mathematical attributes
that they possess.

Nominal Scales

A nominal scale is the lowest level of measurement and is most often used with variables
that are qualitative in nature rather than quantitative. Examples of qualitative variables
are brands of jogging shoes, kinds of fruit, types of music, days of the month, nationality,
religious preference, and eye color.When a nominal scale is used, the variable is divided
into its several categories. These categories comprise the “units” of the scale, and objects
are “measured” by determining the category to which they belong. Thus, measurement
with a nominal scale really amounts to classifying the objects and giving them the name
(hence, nominal scale) of the category to which they belong. A fundamental property of
nominal scales is that of equivalence. By this we mean that all members of a given class
are the same from the standpoint of the classification variable.
Ordinal Scales

An ordinal scale represents the next higher level of measurement. It possesses a

relatively low level of the property of magnitude.With an ordinal scale, we rank order the
objects being measured according to whether they possess more, less, or the same
amount of the variable being measured.Thus, an ordinal scale allows determination of
whether A > B, A = B, A < B.

Interval Scales

The interval scale represents a higher level of measurement

than the ordinal scale. It possesses the properties of
magnitude and equal interval between adjacent units but
doesn’t have an absolute zero point.Thus, the interval scale
possesses the properties of the ordinal scale and has equal
intervals between adjacent units.The phrase “equal
intervals between adjacent units” means that there are
equal amounts of the variable being measured between
adjacent units on the scale.
Ratio Scales

The next, and highest, level of measurement is called a ratio scale. It has all the properties
of an interval scale and, in addition, has an absolute zero point.Without an absolute zero
point, it is not legitimate to compute ratios with the scale readings. Since the ratio scale
has an absolute zero point, ratios are permissible (hence the name ratio scale).

A good example to illustrate the difference

between interval and ratio scales is to
compare the Celsius scale of temperature with
the Kelvin scale. Zero on the Kelvin scale is
absolute zero (the complete absence of heat).
Zero on the Celsius scale is the temperature
at which water freezes. It is an arbitrary zero
point that actually occurs at 273°Kelvin. The
Celsius scale is an interval scale, and the
Kelvin scale is a ratio scale.The difference in
heat between 8° and 9° is the same as between 99°and 100°whether the scale is Celsius
or Kelvin. However, we cannot compute ratios with the Celsius scale. A reading of
20°Celsius is not twice as hot as 10°Celsius. This can be seen by converting the Celsius
readings to the actual heat they represent. In terms of actual heat, 20°Celsius is really
293° (273+ 20°), and 10Celsius is really 283(273+ 10°It is obvious that 293°is not twice
283°Since the Kelvin scale has an absolute zero, a reading of 20°on it is twice as hot as
10° Thus, ratios are permissible with the Kelvin scale.

Amount of Reaction Time

Reference:

https://opentext.wsu.edu/carriecuttler/chapter/methods-of-
knowing/#:~:text=The%20first%20method%20of%20knowing,involves%20believing%20
what%20feels%20true.

https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Algebra1/StatisticsData/STPopSample.html#:~:text=A%2
0population%20data%20set%20contains,a%20subset%2C%20of%20a%20population.