Interval scale
Definition
An interval scale is a level of measurement where the distance between any two adjacent values is equal, but there is no true zero point. Examples include temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit and dates on a calendar.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Interval scales allow for the comparison of differences between values, but not for ratios because there is no true zero point.
- Arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction are meaningful with interval data.
- Common statistical measures such as mean and standard deviation can be computed with interval data.
- Interval scales are more informative than nominal and ordinal scales but less so than ratio scales.
- Examples of interval data include IQ scores, SAT scores, and dates (e.g., years).
Review Questions
- What distinguishes an interval scale from a ratio scale?
- Why can't ratios be meaningfully calculated with interval data?
- Give two examples of measurements that use an interval scale.
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Related terms
Nominal Scale: A level of measurement used for labeling variables without any quantitative value. Examples include gender, nationality, or hair color.
Ordinal Scale: A level of measurement where values can be ordered or ranked, but the distances between the values are not known. Examples include class rankings or levels of satisfaction.
Ratio Scale: $\text{A level of measurement that has all the properties of an interval scale, along with a true zero point. Examples include weight, height, and time duration.}$
