The complete absence of temperature (the absence of any molecular Zero degrees Fahrenheit does not represent Happens to carry the name 'zero.' The Fahrenheit scale They do not have a true zero point even if one of the scaled values Interval scales are not perfect, however. This is becauseĮach 10-degree interval has the same physical meaning (in terms The difference betweenģ0 degrees and 40 degrees represents the same temperature differenceĪs the difference between 80 degrees and 90 degrees. As an example,Ĭonsider the Fahrenheit scale of temperature. Intervals have the same interpretation throughout. Interval scales are numerical scales in which To assert that the mental step from 1 to 2 (for example) is the Changing the response format to numbersĭoes not change the meaning of the scale. In satisfaction as the difference between the responses two and The responses of one and two necessarily reflect the same difference What if the researcher had measured satisfactionīy asking consumers to indicate their level of satisfaction byĬhoosing a number from one to four? Would the difference between (In ourĬase, the underlying scale is the true feeling of satisfaction, The underlying scale giving rise to the measurements. Scale values do not necessarily represent equal intervals on This point by saying that the differences between adjacent Us to determine whether the two differences reflect the sameĭifference in psychological satisfaction. Satisfied.' Nothing in our measurement procedure allows

In our satisfaction scale,įor example, the difference between the responses 'veryĪnd 'somewhat dissatisfied' is probably notĮquivalent to the difference between 'somewhat dissatisfied' and 'somewhat

Of an ordinal scale cannot be assumed to be the same as theĭifference between two other levels. In particular, the difference between two levels Important information that will be present in the other scales On the other hand, ordinal scales fail to capture Such an assertion reflects the first person's use ofĪ verbal label that comes later in the list than the label Person is more satisfied than another with their microwave Satisfaction ordering makes it meaningful to assert that one Scales allow comparisons of the degree to which two Satisfied.' The items in this scale are ordered, rangingįrom least to most satisfied. Their feelings as either 'very dissatisfied,' 'somewhatĭissatisfied,' 'somewhat satisfied,' or 'very Satisfaction with their microwave ovens might ask them to specify Nominal scales embody the lowest level ofĪ researcher wishing to measure consumers' People according to their favorite color, there is no sense in The essential point about nominal scales is that they do not implyĪny ordering among the responses. Gender, handedness, favorite color,Īnd religion are examples of variables measured on a nominal scale. When measuring using a nominal scale, one simply The categories areĬalled 'scale types,' or just 'scales,' and That are important for you to know about. In a given category, all of the procedures share some properties Ways, they can be classified using a few fundamental categories. For a dependent variable such as 'favoriteĬolor,' you can simply note the color-word (like 'red')Īlthough procedures for measurement differ in many In this case (with labels like 'very favorable,' 'somewhatįavorable,' etc.). No use, of course, when it comes to measuring someone's attitude To a stimulus, you might use a stop watch.

On the type of variable involved in the analysis. Exactly how the measurement is carried out depends

Give examples of errors that can be made by failing to understand theīefore we can conduct a statistical analysis,.

Discuss the type of scale used in psychological measurement.

Define and distinguish among nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.

Online statbook levels of measurement