Levels of Measurement

Question 1

When is nominal LoM used?

Answer 1

When the DV is operationalised by putting the data into named categories

Question 2

Is nominal LoM qualitative or quantitative?

Answer 2

Qualitative - it’s subjective

Question 3

What is the AO3 for nominal LoM

Answer 3

Doesn’t allow for comparisons to be drawn between individual participants. We only know what category they are in.

Question 4

When is ordinal LoM used?

Answer 4

When the DV is operationalised by putting the data into order on a scale

Question 5

Is ordinal LoM qualitative or quantitative?

Answer 5

Quantitative - it’s objective

Question 6

What is the AO3 for ordinal LoM?

Answer 6

Limitations :
1. The order/ranking/scale or score is arbitrary as it has been made for the purposes of the study and therefore is meaningless outside of the research
2. The data is basic as it doesn’t allow for comparisons between individual participants. We only know what order they came in or where they are placed
3. The scale is subjective as different people interpret each point on the scale in their own way

Question 7

When is interval LoM used?

Answer 7

When the DV is operationalised by putting the data into equal units using standardised measurements (time, weight, distance)