Measurement Scale

Measurement scale, in statistical analysis, the type of information

provided by numbers. Each of the four scales (i.e., nominal, ordinal,
interval, and ratio) provides a different type of
information. Measurement refers to the assignment of numbers in a
meaningful way, and understanding measurement scales is important
to interpreting the numbers assigned to people, objects, and events.
Nominal scales
In nominal scales, numbers, such as driver’s license numbers and
product serial numbers, are used to name or identify people, objects,
or events. Gender is an example of a nominal measurement in which a
number (e.g., 1) is used to label one gender, such as males, and a
different number (e.g., 2) is used for the other gender, females.
Numbers do not mean that one gender is better or worse than the
other; they simply are used to classify persons. In fact, any other
numbers could be used, because they do not represent an amount or a
quality. It is impossible to use word names with certain statistical
techniques, but numerals can be used in coding systems. For example,
fire departments may wish to examine the relationship between
gender (where male = 1, female = 2) and performance on physical-
ability tests (with numerical scores indicating ability).
Ordinal scales
In ordinal scales, numbers represent rank order and indicate the order
of quality or quantity, but they do not provide an amount of quantity
or degree of quality. Usually, the number 1 means that the person (or
object or event) is better than the person labeled 2; person 2 is better
than person 3, and so forth—for example, to rank order persons in
terms of potential for promotion, with the person assigned the 1 rating
having more potential than the person assigned a rating of 2. Such
ordinal scaling does not, however, indicate how much more potential
the leader has over the person assigned a rating of 2, and there may be
very little difference between 1 and 2 here. When ordinal
measurement is used (rather than interval measurement), certain
statistical techniques are applicable (e.g., Spearman’s rank
correlation).
Interval scale
In interval scales, numbers form a continuum and provide information
about the amount of difference, but the scale lacks a true zero. The
differences between adjacent numbers are equal or known. If zero is
used, it simply serves as a reference point on the scale but does not
indicate the complete absence of the characteristic being measured.
The Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales are examples of
interval measurement. In those scales, 0 °F and 0 °C do not indicate
an absence of temperature.

Ratio scales
Ratio scales have all of the characteristics of interval scales as well as a
true zero, which refers to complete absence of the characteristic being
measured. Physical characteristics of persons and objects can be
measured with ratio scales, and, thus, height and weight are examples
of ratio measurement. A score of 0 means there is complete absence of
height or weight. A person who is 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall is two-thirds
as tall as a 1.8-metre- (6-foot-) tall person. Similarly, a person
weighing 45.4 kg (100 pounds) is two-thirds as heavy as a person who
weighs 68 kg (150 pounds).