Session 5

By:
Puneet
• MEASUREMENT: The assignment of numbers or
other symbols to characteristics of objects according
to certain pre specified rules.

• In research, numbers are usually assigned for two

reasons
1. Number permit statistical analysis of the resulting
data.
2. Numbers facilitate the communication of
measurement rules and results.
• SCALING: Scaling may be considered an extension of
measurement. It involves creating a continuum upon
which measured objects are located.

• Four Primary Scale

NOMINAL SCALE
INTERVAL SCALE
RATIO SCALE
ORDINAL SCALE
 I. NOMINAL

• Labeling scheme-numbers serve only as

labels or tags to identify objects.
• Each number is assigned only to one object.
• Number does not reflect characteristics
• Permissible
operation-Counting/%/Mode/Chi square
• Alphabets can be assigned
Example of Nominal Scale
 II. ORDINAL SCALE
• Number are assigned to represent the possession of
characteristics.
• It shows more or less but not how much more or less.
• Represents relative position, not the magnitude of difference.
• Relative attitude/opinion/perception & preferences.
• Permissible operation-
percentile/rank order/median
• Equivalent items receive same rank
• Monotonic positive transformation of scale is allowed (Order
preserving-Difference is void)
[1,2,3,4] = [10, 20, 30, 40]
Example of Ordinal Scale
 III. INTERVAL SCALE
• Equal distance o scale represent equal values in
characteristics being measures
• Difference between 1 & 2 is equal to difference
between 5 & 6. Thus allowing to compare difference
between objects.
• Location of zero point is not fixed i.e. 0 is arbitrary.
• Y=a+bx will preserve the properties of the scale.
Where b= +ive constant and a=any constant
• Object Rate I Rate 2
A 1 22
B 2 24
C 3 26
D 4 28

where a=20 & b=2

• It is not meaningful to take ration of scale

• Ratio of difference between scale values is permissible as
ratio of difference D&B to B&C is constant
Examples of Interval Scales
 IV. RATIO SCALE

• All properties of previous scales and absolute

zero
• Not only difference between 2 & 5 =14 &17
but also 14 is seven times larger than 2.
• Transformation y=bx
Examples of Ratio Scale
Example of the Four Basic Types of Question Phrasings
 Difference…
Characteristics Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio

Used for Identity Order or Equal Compare

Rank increment absolute
s magnitude
Implied Ordering No Yes Yes Yes

Implied Distance No Yes Yes Yes

Interval Equal No No Yes Yes

Zero Point None Arbitrary Arbitrary Absolute

Unit of Measurement Arbitrary Arbitrary Arbitrary Absolute