Lesson 2 Levels of Measurement
Lesson 2 Levels of Measurement
Lesson 2 Levels of Measurement
Lesson 2
Probability & Statistics
The Levels of Measurement
Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio
Some Definitions
Variable
Some Definitions
Variable
Attribute Attribute
Some Definitions
Variable Gender
Attribute Attribute
Some Definitions
Variable Gender
Exhaustive -- Should include all
possible answerable responses.
Mutually exclusive -- No respondent
should be able to have two attributes
simultaneously (for example, employed
vs. unemployed -- it is possible to be
both if looking for a second job while
employed).
What Is Level of Measurement?
The relationship of the values that are
assigned to the attributes for a variable
What Is Level of Measurement?
The relationship of the values that are
assigned to the attributes for a variable
Relationship
What Is Level of Measurement?
The relationship of the values that are
assigned to the attributes for a variable
Values 1 2 3
Relationship
What Is Level of Measurement?
The relationship of the values that are
assigned to the attributes for a variable
Values 1 2 3
Relationship
What Is Level of Measurement?
The relationship of the values that are
assigned to the attributes for a variable
Values 1 2 3
Relationship
Why Is Level of Measurement
Important?
Helps you decide what statistical
analysis is appropriate on the values
that were assigned
Helps you decide how to interpret the
data from that variable
Nominal Measurement
The values “name” the attribute
uniquely.
Nominal Measurement
The values “name” the attribute
uniquely.
The name does not imply any
ordering of the cases.
Nominal Measurement
The values “name” the attribute
uniquely.
The value does not imply any
ordering of the cases, for example,
jersey numbers in football.
Nominal Measurement
The values “name” the attribute
uniquely.
The value does not imply any
ordering of the cases, for example,
jersey numbers in football.
Even though player 32 has higher
number than player 19, you can’t say
from the data that he’s greater than or
more than the other.
Ordinal Measurement
Has an absolute zero that is meaningful
Ratio Measurement
Has an absolute zero that is meaningful
Can construct a meaningful ratio
(fraction)
Ratio Measurement
Has an absolute zero that is meaningful
Can construct a meaningful ratio
(fraction), for example, number of
clients in past six months
Ratio Measurement
Has an absolute zero that is meaningful
Can construct a meaningful ratio
(fraction), for example, number of
clients in past six months
It is meaningful to say that “...we had
twice as many clients in this period as
we did in the previous six months.
The Hierarchy of Levels
Nominal
The Hierarchy of Levels
Ordinal
Interval
Ordinal Attributes can be ordered
Ratio
Interval Distance is meaningful