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Types of Data & Measurement Scales: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio

This document discusses the four main types of measurement scales used in statistics: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal scales simply assign labels or names to variables without quantitative meaning. Ordinal scales indicate the order of values but not quantitative differences. Interval scales provide both order and quantitative differences between values, but lack a true zero point. Ratio scales have all the properties of interval scales and also have a true zero point, allowing calculations like ratios. Examples are provided for each scale type to illustrate their properties and appropriate statistical analyses.

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109 views5 pages

Types of Data & Measurement Scales: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio

This document discusses the four main types of measurement scales used in statistics: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal scales simply assign labels or names to variables without quantitative meaning. Ordinal scales indicate the order of values but not quantitative differences. Interval scales provide both order and quantitative differences between values, but lack a true zero point. Ratio scales have all the properties of interval scales and also have a true zero point, allowing calculations like ratios. Examples are provided for each scale type to illustrate their properties and appropriate statistical analyses.

Uploaded by

JannahJoyCatamio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Types of Data & Measurement Scales: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and

Ratio

Nominal
Lets start with the easiest one to understand. Nominal scales are used for labeling
variables, without any quantitative value. Nominal scales could simply be called
labels. Here are some examples, below. Notice that all of these scales are mutually
exclusive (no overlap) and none of them have any numerical significance. A good way
to remember all of this is that nominal sounds a lot like name and nominal scales are
kind of like names or labels.

Examples of Nominal Scales


Note: a sub-type of nominal scale with only two categories (e.g. male/female) is called
dichotomous. If you are a student, you can use that to impress your teacher.
Continue reading about types of data and measurement scales: nominal, ordinal,
interval, and ratio
Ordinal
With ordinal scales, it is the order of the values is whats important and significant, but
the differences between each one is not really known. Take a look at the example
below. In each case, we know that a #4 is better than a #3 or #2, but we dont know
and cannot quantifyhow much better it is. For example, is the difference between
OK and Unhappy the same as the difference between Very Happy and Happy?
We cant say.
Ordinal scales are typically measures of non-numeric concepts like satisfaction,
happiness, discomfort, etc.
Ordinal is easy to remember because is sounds like order and thats the key to
remember with ordinal scalesit is the order that matters, but thats all you really get
from these.

Advanced note: The best way to determine central tendency on a set of ordinal data
is to use the mode or median; the mean cannot be defined from an ordinal set.

Example of Ordinal Scales

Interval
Interval scales are numeric scales in which we know not only the order, but also the
exact differences between the values. The classic example of an interval scale
is Celsius temperature because the difference between each value is the same. For
example, the difference between 60 and 50 degrees is a measurable 10 degrees, as is
the difference between 80 and 70 degrees. Time is another good example of an interval
scale in which the increments are known, consistent, and measurable.
Interval scales are nice because the realm of statistical analysis on these data sets
opens up. For example, central tendency can be measured by mode, median, or
mean; standard deviation can also be calculated.
Like the others, you can remember the key points of an interval scale pretty easily.
Interval itself means space in between, which is the important thing to remember
interval scales not only tell us about order, but also about the value between each item.
Heres the problem with interval scales: they dont have a true zero. For example,
there is no such thing as no temperature. Without a true zero, it is impossible to
compute ratios. With interval data, we can add and subtract, but cannot multiply or
divide. Confused? Ok, consider this: 10 degrees + 10 degrees = 20 degrees. No
problem there. 20 degrees is not twice as hot as 10 degrees, however, because there is
no such thing as no temperature when it comes to the Celsius scale. I hope that
makes sense. Bottom line, interval scales are great, but we cannot calculate ratios,
which brings us to our last measurement scale

Example of Interval Scale

Ratio
Ratio scales are the ultimate nirvana when it comes to measurement scales because
they tell us about the order, they tell us the exact value between units, AND they also
have an absolute zerowhich allows for a wide range of both descriptive and
inferential statistics to be applied. At the risk of repeating myself, everything above
about interval data applies to ratio scales + ratio scales have a clear definition of zero.
Good examples of ratio variables include height and weight.
Ratio scales provide a wealth of possibilities when it comes to statistical analysis.
These variables can be meaningfully added, subtracted, multiplied, divided (ratios).
Central tendency can be measured by mode, median, or mean; measures of
dispersion, such as standard deviation and coefficient of variation can also be
calculated from ratio scales.

This Device Provides Two Examples of Ratio Scales (height and weight)

Summary
In summary, nominal variables are used to name, or label a series of values.
Ordinal scales provide good information about the order of choices, such as in a
customer satisfaction survey. Interval scales give us the order of values + the ability
to quantify the difference between each one. Finally, Ratio scales give us the
ultimateorder, interval values, plus the ability to calculate ratios since a true zero
can be defined.

summary of data types and scale measures


Thats it! I hope this explanation is clear and that you know understand the
four types of data measurement scales: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio!

The main portion of Statistics is the display of summarized data. Data is initially
collected from a given source, whether they are experiments, surveys, or observation,
and is presented in one of four methods:

Textular Method
The reader acquires information through reading the gathered data.
Tabular Method
Provides a more precise, systematic and orderly presentation of data in rows or
columns.
Semi-tabular Method
Uses both textual and tabular methods.
Graphical Method
The utilization of graphs is most effective method of visually presenting statistical results
or findings.

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