Ordinal scale

Definition

An ordinal scale is a level of measurement where data can be ordered or ranked but the intervals between the values are not meaningful. Examples include class rankings, survey responses like 'satisfied' to 'dissatisfied', and socioeconomic status.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The ordinal scale provides information about the order of choices, not the difference between them.
2. It is one of the four levels of measurement in statistics, along with nominal, interval, and ratio scales.
3. In an ordinal scale, you cannot assume that the difference between two adjacent ranks is equal.
4. Ordinal data can be visualized using bar charts or pie charts but not histograms.
5. Sums and means cannot be meaningfully calculated for ordinal data.

Review Questions

• What distinguishes an ordinal scale from a nominal scale?
• Can you calculate the mean of data measured on an ordinal scale? Why or why not?
• Give an example of a situation where you would use an ordinal scale.

Related terms

Nominal Scale: A level of measurement used for labeling variables without any quantitative value. Examples include gender, nationality, and hair color.

Interval Scale: A level of measurement where the intervals between values are consistent and meaningful, but there is no true zero point. Examples include temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

Ratio Scale: A level of measurement with all properties of an interval scale and also has a true zero point. Examples include weight, height, and age.