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Measurement Scales. Flashcards

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1
Q

What do we call the data that we collect in our research that is not processes or sorted?

A

Raw Data.

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2
Q

What do we look for in data?

A

We look for patterns in data.

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3
Q

Explain what is meant by a categorical variable.

A

A variable that can be placed into one category and can’t be placed in between. (Smoker vs Non smoker)
Eg. A person has to fall into one category either smoker or non smoker.

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4
Q

A categorical variable puts people into specific ____.

A

Boxes.

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5
Q

Star-Signs are an example of what type of variable?

A

Categorical Variable.

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6
Q

What can we consider any sort of variable that operates above the level of mere categorising as?

A

A measured Variable.

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7
Q

“Stephen is very handsome.”

What is problematic about this measured variable?

A
  • We know he is more handsome than someone who’s slightly handsome
  • BUT people have different ideas of what is “handsome”.
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8
Q

Measured variables give us an idea of the _______ of that particular variable.

A

Quantification.

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9
Q

“Stephen is 6 feet tall”

What is this variable an example of?

A

A measured variable.

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10
Q

Why is height a good measured variable?

A

We have a clear scale that’s measured and it is universally acknowledged.

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11
Q

With a measured variable such as height there is no _____________.

A

Ambiguity.

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12
Q

Before we analyse data, what do we need to know?

A

You need to know what type of data you have.

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13
Q

Name the 2 Dimensions to measurement scales.

A
  1. NOIR (Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio) scales

2. and whether its continuous or discrete.

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14
Q

In any research, there needs to be a ____ way of measuring the ________ you have decided to measure.

A

Systematic, Variables.

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15
Q

Psychologists use 4 different scales of measurement. Name them.

A

Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio

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16
Q

Out of the 4 different scales, 3 are on the numerical scale however 1 is a categorisation scale. Name what scale is the categorisation scale.

A

Nominal.

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17
Q

As we go up the pecking order of scales, from _____ to ______, the scales get more _______ and ______.

A

Nominal, Ratio, Powerful, Sophisticated.

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18
Q

What Scale is the least powerful?

A

Nominal Scale.

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19
Q

What does the Nominal Scale do?

A

It allocates objects or people into categories.

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20
Q

What scale is sometimes referred to as the “categorical” scale?

A

The Nominal Scale.

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21
Q

What scale refers to data that are categorical?

A

Nominal Scale.

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22
Q

Name some examples of the type of data that the nominal scale would be used for.

A
  • Gender (female/male)
  • Smoking status (smoker/non smoker)
  • Marital Status (married/not married/widow/divorced)
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23
Q

In the nominal scale people can be divided into _______ based on ___ characteristic.

A

Categories, 1 (and only 1).

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24
Q

In terms of height, how would a sample of people be divided using the nominal scale?

A
  • A tall group

- A short group.

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25
Q

In the Nominal Scale we use a simple categorical variable, what is this known as?

A

A nominal variable.

26
Q

When we put people in the “tall” group, what have we done?

A

-We have assigned them a value on the basis of a sole classification (tall or small).

27
Q

For the nominal scale what do we not need to distinguish one from another?

A

We don’t need numbers to distinguish one from another.

28
Q

What is important in the nominal scale?

A

We must be able to lace each item into one category, and it can’t be included in more than one category.

29
Q

Nominal data must all have a ________ feature.

A

Common.

30
Q

In the nominal scale, what is a criticism of people being placed in categories eg. tall/ short?

A

We don’t know any real quantitative information eg. HOW tall/ short each person is.

31
Q

The nominal scale gives us the least amount of _______ information, it is not really a measurement, it’s more of a ___________.

A

Quantitative, Pigeonhole.

32
Q

What scale would be used for the frequency of different blood groups? And why?

A

Nominal Scale

  • Put into groups on the basis of one factor eg. blood groups
  • Can’t be in two blood groups.
33
Q

What does the Ordinal Scale do?

A

The ordinal scales put items in order eg. it ranks items.

34
Q

In terms of height, how would the data be organised using an ordinal scale?

A

From smallest to tallest.

35
Q

Instead of categories, what does the ordinal scale use?

A

Ranks.

36
Q

What does ordinal data tell us? (explain using height example)

A

It tells us a bit more data than nominal scale, as we now know who’s taller than who, BUT there is still quantification missing because we don’t know HOW MUCH taller they are.

37
Q

Ordinal Numbers represent a ______ in a group, as a from of _________.

A

Position, Ranking.

38
Q

Ranks have __________ values.

A

Numerical.

39
Q

What does the ordinal scale not tell us?

A

It doesn’t tell us distance between positions.

40
Q

Some psychological variables are measured on ordinal scales, give an example of this.

A

For example using a Likert scale (questionnaire eg. strongly agree/agree/disagree etc.)

41
Q

What is the issue with using Likert Scales for questionnaires?

A

We have an idea of the strength of agreement but we can’t quantify the amount of agreement between them.

42
Q

What is an Interval Scale?

A

Data on a continuous numerical scale with equal intervals between points on the scale.

43
Q

What is a classic example of an Interval Scale?

A

Temperature.

44
Q

What is a special feature about Interval Scales?

A

There is no real/absolute zero.

45
Q

0 degrees doesn’t mean there is _____ _______.

A

No temperature.

46
Q

What is a ratio scale?

A

An interval scale with an absolute zero.

47
Q

What is the only difference between interval and ratio scales?

A

Interval Scale = no absolute zero

Ratio Scale = absolute zero.

48
Q

In ratio scales what are now meaningful? (use height as example).

A

Ratios between numbers or scores are now meaningful. Eg. we can say how much taller person 8 is then person 7.

49
Q

Name some examples of ratio scales.

A
  • Distance
  • Time
  • Height.
50
Q

The data on the any scale can either be _____ or _______.

A

Discrete or continuous.

51
Q

What is meant by continuous scales?

A

Scales where it’s always theoretically possible to further subdivide units of measurement.

52
Q

Name examples of continuous scales.

A

Time (eg 9.8 s/ 9.76 s/ 9.764 s) and Distance.

53
Q

What is discrete scales?

A

Scales where we cannot divide the values into smaller units.

54
Q

Name an example of discrete scales.

A

Children (can’t have 2 1/2 children, can only have 2 or 3).

55
Q

In discrete scales, the property being measure changes in ____ rather then ___.

A

Steps, Continuously.

56
Q

What scales can we not find any meaningful average for?

A

Nominal and Ordinal.

57
Q

What scales can we find meaningful averages for?

A

Interval and Ratio Scale.

58
Q

What scale is the most powerful and sophisticated?

A

( Interval) Ratio Scale.

59
Q

What can we perform with interval and ratio measurements?

A

-Perform statistics - as we can add, subtract, divide etc. in a meaningful way.

60
Q

Interval and Ratio is more powerful than _____ which is more powerful than _______.

A

Ordinal, Nominal.

61
Q

Its important to try and set up a study to collect data in the most beneficial way, using the most _____ ______ available.

A

Powerful Scale.

Psychology (24 decks)

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