Measuring Scale

Measurement Scales
1. Numbers are used to classify, group, or sort responses. No order
exists.
2. Numbers are ordered. One number is greater than, less than, or equal
to another number.
3. Differences between numbers are ordered. The difference between
any pair of numbers is greater than, less than, or equal to the
difference between any other pair of numbers.
4. The number series has a unique origin indicated by the number zero.
This is an absolute and meaningful zero point.
Types of Scale
What are the possible sources
of errors in measurement?
Sources of Measurement Differences
• the respondent,
• the situation,
• the measurer, and
• the data collection instrument
Characteristics of good measurement
• Validity is the extent to which a test measures what we actually wish
to measure.
• Reliability has to do with the accuracy and precision of a measurement
procedure.
• Practicality is concerned with a wide range of factors of economy,
convenience, and interpretability.
Content Validity
Stability
• Time delay between measurements —leads to situational factor
changes (also a problem in observation studies).
• Insufficient time between measurements —permits the respondent to
remember previous answers and repeat them, resulting in biased
reliability indicators.
• Respondent’s discernment of a study’s disguised purpose —may
introduce bias if the respondent holds opinions related to the purpose
but not assessed with current measurement questions.
• Topic sensitivity —occurs when the respondent seeks to learn more
about the topic or form new and different opinions before the retest.
What do you understand by
practicality?
Practicality
• Economy
• Convenience
• Interpretability