OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOR COLLEGE

Gen. Ordoñez St.,

3 Concepcion Uno, Marikina City

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

LEARNING MODULE
IN
STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY
(LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT)
LESSON
LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT
5

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES

Distinguish the levels of measurement

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CONTENT STANDARD:
The learner demonstrates an understanding of the key concepts of nature of
statistics, random variable and probability distribution.

PERFORMANCE STANDARD:
The learner can accurately apply concept of nature of statistics and apply an
appropriate random variable for given real-life problem.

ENABLING LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to do the following:
ELO 1. Define the different types of data;
ELO 2. Distinguish the difference between the types of data;
ELO 3. Apply types of data in real-life situation.

INTRODUCTION

Throughout your early high school years, steps on how to conduct

experiments haven’t been new to you. You will start with a problem and end up
making a conclusion – whichever project you are in to. However, as years
passed by, we have learned that these steps aren’t just applicable scientifically.
Instead, they can be overviewed as a process on how we solve whatever
queries feed up our curious minds.
Analysis has been one of the toughest parts of deciding in terms of solving
a problem. In analysis, it is very essential for us to weight such variables before
coming up to a conclusion. Same goes in research, it is important to first
understand variables and what should be measured using these variables.
Statistically speaking, there are different levels of measurement.
The question is what are the different levels of measurement? How do
they differ from each other? What are its implications in real-life situations?

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Interval These are data which can be categorized,

ranked, and evenly spaced.
Nominal These are data which can only be categorized.
Ordinal These are data which can be ranked and
categorized

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Ratio These are data which can be categorized,
ranked, evenly spaced, and has a natural zero.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

Read the Information Sheet very well then find out how much you can
remember and how much have you learned by doing Self-check.

There are different levels of measurement, namely:

 Nominal Level of Measurement
 Ordinal Level of Measurement
 Interval Level of Measurement
 Ratio Level of Measurement

Nominal Level of Measurement is a data which can only be categorized. This

level is the simplest of the four variable measurement levels. Calculations done
on these variables will be futile as there is no numerical value of the options.
Nominal level is often used in research surveys and questionnaires where only
variable labels hold significance. Such research questions are the following:

 Where do you live?

 Which brand of smartphones do you prefer?

In this level of measurement, only the names of places or the names of

brands are significant to the researcher. There is no need for any specific order
for these places or brands. However, while capturing nominal data, researchers
conduct analysis based on the associated labels.

There are two primary ways in which nominal level of measurement can be
collected:

1. By asking an open-ended questions, the answers of which can be coded

to a respective number of label decided by the researcher.
2. The other alternative to collect nominal data is to include a multiple
choice question in which the answers will be labeled.

Ordinal Level of Measurement is a data which can be ranked and

categorized. This level is generally used to depict non-mathematical ideas such
as frequency, satisfaction, happiness, a degree of pain, etc. It is quite
straightforward to remember the implementation of this level as ‘Ordinal’ sounds
similar to ‘Order’, which is exactly the purpose of this level

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 Ordinal level maintains descriptive qualities along with an intrinsic order but is
void of an origin of scale and thus, the distance between variables can’t be
calculated. Descriptive qualities indicate tagging properties similar to the
nominal scale, in addition to which, the ordinal scale also has a relative position
of variables. Origin of this scale is absent due to which there is no fixed start or
“true zero”. In questionnaires, such research questions may be posted as an
example of ordinal level of measurement:

 How satisfied are you with our services?

 What is your current status in your workplace?

In ordinal level of measurement, the order of variables is of prime importance

and so is the labeling. Very unsatisfied will always be worse than unsatisfied and
satisfied will be worse than very satisfied. This is where ordinal level is a step
above nominal level – the order is relevant and so it’s naming.

Interval Level of Measurement is a data which can be categorized, ranked,

and evenly spaced. Variables that have familiar, constant, and computable
differences are classified using the Interval level. It is easy to remember the
primary role of this scale too, ‘Interval’ indicates ‘distance between two entities’,
which is what Interval scale helps in achieving.

This level is effective as they open doors for the statistical analysis of provided
data. Mean, median, or mode can be used to calculate the central tendency
in this scale. The only drawback of this scale is that there no pre-decided starting
point or a true zero value.

Interval level contains all the properties of the ordinal scale, in addition to
which, it offers a calculation of the difference between variables. The main
characteristic of this scale is the equidistant difference between objects.

For example, consider a Celsius/Fahrenheit temperature scale -

 80 degrees is always higher than 50 degrees and the difference between

these two temperatures is the same as the difference between 70
degrees and 40 degrees.
 Also, the value of 0 is arbitrary because negative values of temperature
do exist – which makes the Celsius/Fahrenheit temperature scale a classic
example of an interval scale.
 Interval level is often chosen in research cases where the difference
between variables is a mandate – which can’t be achieved using a
nominal or ordinal scale. The Interval level quantifies the difference

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 between two variables whereas the other two scales are solely capable
of associating qualitative values with variables.

Ratio Level of Measurement is a data which can be categorized, ranked,

evenly spaced, and has a natural zero. It is similar from interval level of
measurement for it can be calculated and has a specific order between the
options. However, variables in such level have an option for zero.

With the option of true zero, varied inferential, and descriptive analysis
techniques can be applied to the variables. In addition to the fact that the ratio
scale does everything that a nominal, ordinal, and interval scale can do, it can
also establish the value of absolute zero. The best examples of ratio scales are
weight and height. In market research, a ratio scale is used to calculate market
share, annual sales, the price of an upcoming product, the number of
consumers, etc.

The following questions fall under the ratio level of measurement category:
 What is your daughter’s current height?
 What is your weight in kilograms?

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 WRITER’S PROFILE

Title of Learning Module Chapter 1: Nature of Statistics

Lesson 5: Levels of Measurement
Grade Level Grade 11
Writer’s Name Miss Roveinna S. Salting, LPT
Email Address roveinna.salting@olopsc.edu.ph

I solemnly swear on my honor that this Learning Module is my original

creation and not an imitation of any existing learning resources in any
government, non-government, private and commercial institution. I am fully
aware of the consequences and penalties that may be imposed upon
should this material be proven copied or imitated, under existing laws, rules
and regulation. I therefore affix my digital signature and that of my
immediate supervisor to attest to the accuracy and truthfulness of this entry
form.

Signed this 16th day of February, 2021.

ROVEINNA S. SALTING, LPT

STEM Faculty

Checked by: Noted by:

HILARION B. DE VERA, LPT, MBiEd DANIEL B. AMBROCIO, LPT, MAE

STEM Strand Chair Senior High School Principal
05-05-2021

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 OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOR COLLEGE
Gen. Ordoñez St., Concepcion Uno, Marikina City

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Name Total Score

Level & Section Date
Subject Subject Teacher

STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

ACTIVITY 5 LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LEARNED?

Self-Check

Directions: Determine which level of measurement of data is being shown in

each situation. Write N if it is nominal, O if it is ordinal, I if it is interval and R if it is
ratio.

_____1. Hair color of women on a high school tennis team.

_____2. Numbers on the shirts of a girls’ soccer team.
_____3. Ages of students in a statistics class.
_____4. Temperatures of 22 selected refrigerators.
_____5. Number of milligrams of tar in 28 cigarettes.
_____6. Number of pages in your statistics book.
_____7. Marital status of faculty members at a local community college.
_____8. List of 1247 social security numbers.
_____9. The ratings of a movie ranging from “poor” to “good” to “excellent”.
_____10. The final grades (A,B,C,D, and F) for students in a chemistry class.

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 HOW DO YOU EXTEND YOUR LEARNING?

Answer the following questions:

1. How the levels of measurement differ from each other?

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2. Give three (3) situations whose variable showcase nominal level of

measurement.
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3. Give three (3) situations whose variable showcase ordinal level of
measurement.
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4. Give three (3) situations whose variable showcase interval level of

measurement.
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5. Give three (3) situations whose variable showcase ratio level of
measurement.
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