Measurement & Levels Of Measurement Flashcards
Define measurement
The careful deliberate observation of the real world in the research context
A very specific process such as measuring length or other simpler actions such as assignment of a person to a particular category
State the four levels of measurement
Ordinal, nominal, interval or ratio
State the parameters for the nominal level
- Differing attributes but not quantity such as gender, eye color or religion
- Name only
- Lowest level of measurement
What are the forms of nominal data?
Individual
Grouped
Frequency distribution
What is individual data
Data presented in a list of each individual subject in the study and his or her assignment for one or more variables
What is grouped data?
Data that is presented as a category of a variable, listed and the subjects are not named but are counted (grouped) in the category into which each subject falls.
What is a frequency distribution?
A tabulation that lists the variable, its categories, and a frequency column
What is the ordinal level of measurement?
The ordinal level of measurement refers to measuring in an order where numbers represent rank orderings rather than raw score magnitudes
What is the likert scale?
A scale whose categories are based on the level of agreement with a particular statement or issue
Differentiate between interval and ratio levels of measurement
In the interval scale, the subject receives a numerical score rather than a ranking where zero is an arbitrarily chosen point - scores may be above or below
In the ratio scale is one in which the units represent raw score magnitudes, there are equal intervals between adjacent units on the scale and there is an absolute zero point
Differentiate between categorical data and quantitative data
Categorical or qualitative data: assignment by categories that do not imply amounts
Quantitative data: refers to data that are assigned to categories that are involved with amounts
What are binary scales?
Nominal scales consisting of binary items (where the binary items assume two possible values )
What is a measure of central tendency
Averages or measures of location that find a single member that reflects the middle of the distribution of scores - the “average score” for that group
What is a measure of dispersion?
Measures concerning the degree that the scores under study are dispersed or spread among the mean
What does it mean when there is no dispersion at all
All scores are exactly at the mean
