levels of measurement

Question 1

nominal

Answer 1

used when DV is operationalised by putting the data into named categories or counting the frequency or number of participants in a category

e.g. asking for favourite food

can be used when data is qualitative or when researcher is counting number of times something happens

Question 2

nominal limit

Answer 2

data is basic as it doesnt allow for comparisons between individual participants

Question 3

ordinal

Answer 3

used when dv is operationalised by putting the data into order or by ranking data using a scale

can be used when data is quantitative

Question 4

ordinal limits

Answer 4

ranking scale used is arbitrary as it has been made for purposes of the study so is meaningless outside of study

data is basic as it doesnt allow for comparisons between individual participants

scale is subjective as different people interpret each point on a scale in their own way

Question 5

interval

Answer 5

used when dv is operationalised by putting the data into equal units using a standardised measurement like time, weight or distance

intervals between each of these units of measurement are exactly the same

used when data is universally recognised using a standardised scale such as kg, secs, C etc

Question 6

interval strength

Answer 6

data is least basic as it allows for comparisons between individuals as measurement is standardised and put into equal units we can be certain that someone who wins a race in 2 mins is faster than someone who took 4

Question 7

unclear

Answer 7

if you are unclear if level of measurement is ordinal or interval then use “at least ordinal”