Level of measurement
Definition
Level of measurement refers to the nature and hierarchy of data classification. It includes four levels: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio, each providing different information about the data.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- The nominal level classifies data into distinct categories without any order or ranking.
- The ordinal level arranges data in a meaningful order but does not measure the distance between categories.
- Interval level measures the difference between values but lacks a true zero point.
- Ratio level has all the properties of interval data and includes an absolute zero, allowing for a full range of mathematical operations.
- Understanding the level of measurement helps determine appropriate statistical tests and analysis methods.
Review Questions
- What is the key difference between interval and ratio levels of measurement?
- How does ordinal data differ from nominal data?
- Why is it important to identify the level of measurement when analyzing data?
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Related terms
Nominal Data: Categorical data without any intrinsic order or ranking among categories.
Ordinal Data: Categorical data with a clear ordering or ranking among categories.
Interval Data: Numeric data with meaningful differences between values but no true zero point.
