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Kulwinder Pal, Lovely Professional University Unit 3: Scales of Measurement : Ordinal, Nominal, Interval, Ratio

Unit 3: Scales of Measurement : Ordinal, Nominal, Notes
Interval, Ratio

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
3.1 Concept of Scales of Measurement
3.2 Properties of Measurement Scales
3.3 Nominal Scale
3.4 Ordinal Scale

3.5 Interval Scale
3.6 Ratio Scale
3.7 Summary
3.8 Keywords
3.9 Review Questions
3.10 Further Readings

Objectives

The objectives of this unit can be summarised as below :
• To explain about the Concept of Scales of Measurement
• To discuss about the Properties of Measurement Scales
• To describe about the Nominal Scale
• To explain about the Ordinal Scale
• To discuss about the Interval Scale

• To describe about the Eatio Scale

Introduction

Measurement scales are used to categorize and/or quantify variables. This lesson describes the
four scales of measurement that are commonly used in statistical analysis : nominal, ordinal,
interval, and ratio scales. The interval scale of measurement has the properties of identity,
magnitude, and equal intervals. A perfect example of an interval scale is the Fahrenheit scale to
measure temperature. The scale is made up of equal temperature units, so that the difference
between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit is equal to the difference between 50 and 60 degrees
Fahrenheit.
The ratio scale of measurement satisfies all four of the properties of measurement : identity,
magnitude, equal intervals, and an absolute zero. Absolute zero is a property of the weight scale
because objects at rest can be weightless, but they cannot have negative weight. We will study
about all the Scales of measurement.

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