Module 4 Scales of Measurements

Scales of measurement, in the realm of statistics and research, serve as a

crucial framework for understanding and categorizing the various ways in which
data can be quantified and analyzed.

There are four main scales of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval,

and ratio. Understanding the scale of measurement is essential for choosing the
appropriate statistical analyses and drawing valid conclusions from data. Scales
of Measurement are the sole determinants of the statistical operations that can
be applied to the given data set. The choice of scale depends on the nature of
the data and the research questions being addressed.

I. Nominal Scale

The nominal scale of measurement is the simplest level of measurement

in statistics. It categorizes data into distinct categories or labels, where each
category represents a different attribute or group. Nominal data lacks any
inherent order or ranking, and there are no meaningful numeric values
associated with the categories. It is primarily used for classification and
organizing data into discrete groups. Nominal data is suitable in various
situations when dealing with categorical or qualitative variables that can be
divided into distinct, non-overlapping categories or groups.

Examples of Nominal Scale

 Gender: The categories of male, female, and non-binary represent a nominal
scale. These categories are distinct, but there is no inherent order or numeric
value associated with them.
 Types of Fruit: Categorizing fruits into groups like apples, bananas, and
oranges is another example. These categories are distinct and used for
classification, but they do not represent any numeric values or ordering.
 Marital Status: Marital status categories such as single, married, divorced,
and widowed are nominal. They classify individuals into different marital
groups, but there is no inherent order among them.
Characteristics of Nominal Scale
 Mutually Exclusive Categories: Each data point can belong to only one
category, and categories are mutually exclusive. For example, an individual
cannot be both male and female simultaneously.
 No Inherent Order: The categories do not have a natural order or ranking. In
the gender example, there is no inherent order among male, female, and
non-binary.
 No Arithmetic Operations: Nominal data does not support meaningful
mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, or multiplication. You
cannot perform calculations like finding the average (mean) or taking the
difference between categories.
 Mode as the Measure of Central Tendency: The most suitable measure of
central tendency for nominal data is the mode, which simply identifies the
most frequently occurring category.

II. Ordinal Scale

The ordinal scale of measurement is one of the four fundamental

measurement scales in statistics, ranking just above the nominal scale in terms
of measurement precision. This scale introduces an ordered relationship
between categories, meaning that the data can be ranked or ordered in some
meaningful way, but the intervals between the categories are not uniform or
well-defined. It indicates relative differences in magnitude but lacks precise
measurement. Ordinal data is suitable for descriptive purposes and can be
analyzed using non-parametric statistical techniques that do not require equal
intervals or a true zero, such as ranking, median, and mode. However, caution
should be exercised when performing arithmetic operations on ordinal data, as
these operations are generally not meaningful.

Examples of Ordinal Scale

 Educational Levels: Educational attainment is often measured on an ordinal

scale. For example, we can categorize individuals’ education levels as “High
School,” “Bachelor’s Degree,” “Master’s Degree,” and “Ph.D.” These
categories have a clear order, with each representing a higher level of
education, but the intervals between them do not signify equal increases in
knowledge or skills.
 Customer Satisfaction Ratings: Customer satisfaction surveys often use
ordinal scales to collect feedback. Ratings like “Very Dissatisfied,” “Somewhat
Dissatisfied,” “Neutral,” “Somewhat Satisfied,” and “Very Satisfied” provide
an ordered ranking of satisfaction levels, but the difference in satisfaction
between two adjacent categories may not be consistent.

 Star Ratings: Online reviews and rating systems often use ordinal scales. For
example, a product or service might be rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5
stars indicating the highest rating. While these stars represent a ranking, the
difference in quality or satisfaction between, say, 3 and 4 stars may not be
the same as between 4 and 5 stars.

Characteristics of Ordinal Scale

 Ordered Categories: Data on an ordinal scale is organized into categories that

have a meaningful order or ranking. This means that one category is
considered higher or lower than another category based on some inherent
characteristic, but the exact difference between them is not specified.

 Unequal Intervals: Unlike interval and ratio scales, ordinal scales do not have
consistent or equal intervals between categories. The intervals between
categories are not standardized, and we cannot assume that the difference in
magnitude between two adjacent categories is the same as the difference
between other adjacent categories.

 No True Zero: Ordinal scales lack a true zero point, meaning that there is no
absolute starting point or reference point at which the characteristic being
measured is non-existent. This absence of a true zero limits the mathematical
operations that can be performed on ordinal data.

III. Interval Scale

The interval scale is a level of measurement that combines the properties

of both the nominal and ordinal scales but goes a step further by having equal
intervals between data points. Unlike the nominal and ordinal scales, the
interval scale assigns numerical values to categories and ensures that the
intervals between these values are equal. However, it lacks a true zero point,
meaning that the absence of a value does not imply the absence of the attribute
being measured.

Examples of Interval Scale

 Temperature: Temperature measured in Degrees Celsius or Degrees

Fahrenheit is a classic example of data measured on an interval scale. The
intervals between degrees are consistent (e.g., the difference between 20°C
and 30°C is the same as between 30°C and 40°C), but a temperature of 0°C
does not mean the absence of temperature, it is just a reference point.

 IQ Scores: IQ (intelligence quotient) scores are measured on an interval scale.

The differences between IQ scores are consistent, but an IQ score of 0 does
not imply a total lack of intelligence.

Characteristics of Interval Scale

 Equal Intervals: In an interval scale, the intervals between values are uniform
and consistent. For example, the difference between 20°C and 30°C is the
same as between 30°C and 40°C.

 Ordered Data: Like the ordinal scale, data on the interval scale can be
ordered or ranked. You can say that one temperature is higher or lower than
another, or that one IQ score is higher or lower than another.

 No True Zero: Perhaps the most important characteristic of the interval scale
is the absence of a true zero point. In other words, a value of zero does not
indicate the complete absence of the attribute being measured. For
example, a temperature of 0°C does not mean there is no temperature, it is
just a reference point on the Celsius scale.

 Mathematical Operations: Mathematical operations like addition and

subtraction can be performed on interval data. This allows for calculations of
differences or changes between values. However, multiplication, division,
and ratios are not meaningful because of the lack of a true zero.
 Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion: Interval data can be used to
calculate measures like the mean (average), median, mode, variance, and
standard deviation. These statistical measures are valuable for analysing and
summarizing interval-scale data.

IV. Ratio Scale

The ratio scale of measurement is the most precise and comprehensive

level of measurement in statistics. It possesses all the properties of the lower
scales (nominal, ordinal, and interval) and includes a meaningful zero point,
allowing for the calculation of meaningful ratios between values. This means
that not only can data be ranked and have consistent intervals, but ratios
between values are also meaningful. It is commonly used in scientific research,
economics, engineering, and many other fields where precise measurement and
data analysis are essential.

Examples of Ratio Scale

 Height: Height measured in centimeters or inches is an example of a ratio

scale. It has a true zero point (i.e., the absolute absence of height), and one
can perform meaningful mathematical operations. For instance, if one
person is 180 cm tall and another is 90 cm tall, we can say that the first
person is twice as tall as the second person.

 Weight: Weight measured in kilograms or pounds is another example of a

ratio scale. It also has a true zero point, allowing for meaningful ratios. For
instance, If one object weighs 10 kilograms and another weighs 5 kilograms,
we can accurately say that the first object is twice as heavy as the second
one.

 Age: Age in years is a ratio scale variable. It starts from zero at birth, and one
can perform meaningful arithmetic operations with age. For instance, if
someone is 40 years old and another person is 20 years old, we can say that
the first person is twice as old as the second person.

 Income: Income measured in dollars is a ratio scale variable. It has a true zero
point (earning zero dollars means having no income), and one can perform
 arithmetic operations on income data. For example, if one person earns
60,000 per year and another person earns 30,000 per year, we can state
that the first person earns twice as much as the second person.

Characteristics of Ratio Scale

 True Zero Point: The defining characteristic of the ratio scale is the presence
of a true zero point, which represents the complete absence of the measured
attribute. This allows for the calculation of meaningful ratios (e.g., one value
is twice as large as another).

 Equal Intervals: Like the interval scale, the ratio scale has equal intervals
between values. This means that the numerical difference between any two
values on the scale is meaningful and consistent.

 Order and Magnitude: The data on a ratio scale can be ordered or ranked
based on magnitude, and meaningful comparisons can be made between
values.

 Arithmetic Operations: All basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction,

multiplication, division) can be applied to ratio scale data. This enables the
calculation of various statistical measures such as the mean, median, mode,
variance, standard deviation, and more.

 Meaningful Ratios: Ratios between values have practical significance. For

instance, if you have two values on a ratio scale, you can accurately state
how many times one value is greater or smaller than the other.