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MODULE 4

SCALES OF MEASUREMENT

Introduction
This module for independent study in Educational Statistics is an attempt to
provide the graduate students with learning insights on the different types of scales
measurement.

Learning Concepts
Scales of Measurements

Differentiate real nominal data, artificial nominal data, ordinal data, interval data,
and ratio data.

III. Learning Objectives

After Working on this module, the graduate students are expected to:

1. Categorize variables according to scale of measurement.

2. Discuss what nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio data.
3. Differentiate real nominal data, artificial nominal data, ordinal data, interval
data,
and ratio data.
4. Give examples of each scale of measurement.

IV. Learning Activities/Methodology

1. Concept Reading
2. Organizing Concept and Key Ideas
3. Answering the Guide Questions

V. Concept Map

Tropical Concept Objectives Means Evaluation/Study

Guide
-Scales of -Discuss the -Concept reading of -Define and Give the
Measurement definition of nominal, the scales of difference:
Nominal Ordinal ordinal, interval, and measurement which 1. Nominal Data
Interval Ratio ratio data. are categorized as 2. Ordinal data
-Give examples of ordinal, nominal, 3. Interval data
each scale interval, and ratio 4. Ratio Data
measurement. variables/data.

VI. Learning Context (Key Concepts)

Scales of Measurement.
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Data for analysis from the measurement of one or more variables. Depending
upon the variables and the way in which they are measured, different kinds of data
result, representing different scales is represented by the data since different statistics
are appropriate for different scales of measurement.

1. Nominal Scales represent the lowest level of measurements.

This maybe thought of as the “naming” level. Such as scales classified
persons or objects into two or more categories. Whatever the basis for
clarification, a person can only be in category, and members of a given category,
and members of a given category have a common set of characteristics. For
example, when we ask subjects to name their marital status such as “married”,
“single” is higher or lower than any other.
Another example is sex. Members of the population may be classified as
male or female. As to socio-economic status, the members of a group may be
classified as those belonging to high, average or low SES.

2. Ordinal. A scale that measures by “rank order” only. Other than rough order,
no precise measurement is possible. At this level we put subjects in order from
high to low. For instance, an employer might rank order applicants for a job on
their professional appearance. Traditionally, we give a rank of a to the subject
who is highest, 2 to the next highest, and so on. It is important to note that ranks
do not tell how much subjects differ. If we are told that Janet has rank of 1 and
Frank has a rank of 2, we do not know if Janet’s appearance is greatly superior
to Frank’s or only slightly superior.
In addition, one can judge and rank the contestants in a beauty contest.

3. Interval variables. This property allows one make statements of quality of

intervals. Examples are height, weight, temperature and test scores.

4. Ratio variable. This property permits making statements of equality of ratios.

Example: If Linda is 48 years and Julio is 22 years old, their ages can be
expressed in the ratio of 48:22 or 24:11 (twenty- four is to eleven).
Measurement at the interval and ratio levels have equal distances among
the scores the yield. For examples, when we say that Jill weighs 120 pounds and
sally weighs 130 pounds’ difference represents the same amount regardless of
where we are on the scales. For instance, the difference between 120 and 130
pounds is the same as the difference between 220 and 23 pounds.
The Ratio Scale is at a higher level than the interval scales because the
ratio has a zero point that we know how to measure. Thus weight is an example
of the ratio scale because it has an absolute zero that we can measure.

VII. Synthesis/Summary
The study of statistic is an essential component of everyday life. Data
have been classified into four scales of measurement so that it can be easily
interpreted universally. The scale of chosen depending on the information that
the data is intending to represent. The four scales of measurement of data are
nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Each plays a different, yet very important role
in the world of statistic. The nominal data measurements scales are used for data
that is expressed with the purpose of identifying some kind of attribute. It can be
expressed using either a numeric code or some kind of non-numeric label. The
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ordinal data measurement scale is used when you want to classify information
based on a. specific order or rank that is necessary.
Finally, the ratio data measurement scale is used to express the ratio of some of
the variables of interval data.

Study Guide

1. Define and give the difference of nominal data, ordinal data, interval data, and ratio
data.

2. Give examples of each of the following scales of measurement.

a. Nominal
b. Ordinal
c. Interval
d. Ratio

3. Classify the type of data that will be obtained from the following variables as real
nominal, artificial nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.
a. Breeds of cattle
b. Electric power consumptions of household appliances.
c. Competitive test results (pass/fail)
d. Types of beans
e. Efficiency ratings of employees
f. Popularity ratings of government officials
g. Scores of an entrance examination
h. Heights of high school students
i. Scores of basketball players.
j. Popularity ratings of basketball players.
k. Ranks in the army.
l. Levels of schooling (elementary/secondary/tertiary/graduate)
m. Types of personality
n. I.Q.
o. Aptitudes
p. Types of profession
q. Attitudes toward the teaching profession
r. Grades in school
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ASIAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION COLLEGE

TACLOBAN CITY

MODULE FOR INDEPENDENT

STUDY IN
EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS

Submitted by:
JAYNEE M. MOCORRO
MAED

Submitted to:
ROGELIA K. FIRMO, PH.D.
Instructor