Nominal scale

Definition

A nominal scale is a classification method that assigns labels or names to categories without any quantitative value. It is used for categorical data where the order of categories does not matter.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Nominal scales categorize data but do not rank them.
2. Examples include gender, race, and types of cuisine.
3. Data on a nominal scale can be counted but not ordered or measured.
4. Nominal scale data is analyzed using frequency counts and mode.
5. Chi-square tests are often used for hypothesis testing with nominal data.

Review Questions

• What type of data does a nominal scale categorize?
• Can you rank or measure categories in a nominal scale?
• Which statistical test is commonly used for analyzing nominal scale data?

Related terms

Ordinal Scale: A measurement scale that categorizes and ranks data but does not determine the magnitude of differences between categories.

Interval Scale: A measurement scale that categorizes, ranks, and quantifies differences between categories, but lacks a true zero point.

Frequency Table: A table that displays the frequency of various outcomes in a sample.