Introduction to Level of Measurement

Measurement is the process of assigning a number to an event or object according to a predetermined set of rules.
Examples: age, weight, gender, place of birth The measurement a subject receives for a variable is the subjects score, or code, for that variable.

Unit of Measure: set intervals between variables that can be measured by unit. Examples: for age a year, for height an inch, for temperature a degree If a variable has unit of measure it can be marked off incrementally with one unit of separation.

Level of Measurement: A variable fits into one of four categories, called the level of measurement, that determines which mathematical operations, if any, can be performed on the data collected on that variable. The results from these operations are used to test hypotheses. Nominal Variables(nama) Ordinal Variables(angka bertingkat) Interval Variables(selang) Ratio Variables(kadar/nisbah)

The Nominal level of measurement classifies data into mutually exclusive (no overlapping), exhausting, categories in which no order or ranking can be imposed on the data .

Nominal Data

Classification of things or items on basis of qualitative characteristic or quantitative characteristic. Identification of groups by numbersin such cases numbers are used only as labels. Objects things belong in discrete categories Examples: Post code numbers, race, occupation gender A BC

Examples of Nominal Data

Gender ( Male or Female) Geographic Region ( North, South, East, West) Race ( Malay, Chinese, Indian, Other) Religion ( Islam, Hindu, Buddha, Christian) Marital Status ( Single, Married, Divorce, etc) College Major ( Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, IT, etc) Others

The ordinal level of measurement classifies data into categories that can be ranked; however, precise differences between ranks do not exists.

Ordinal Data

Ranking or ordering of items One item is better tan others Use numbers only to denote position in an order Examples: football ranking, position in class, order of things to do A >B > C

Examples of Ordinal Data

Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) Year in Primary School (Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4) Ranking (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th ) Drawing Contest, Football Ranking Percentile (90th, 70th, 65th )

The interval level of measurement ranks data, precise differences between units of measure do exists; however, there is no meaningful zero.

Examples of Interval Data

Test Score Percentages Year A.D IQ Score Temperature

The ratio level of measurement possesses all the characteristics of interval measurement, and there exist a true zero. In addition, true zero exist when the same variable is measured on two different member of the population

Interval Data/Ratio Data

We can make greater or less distinctions. We can tell how much greater or less Equal Distances between intervals Examples: Test score, IQ score, Attitude Scales, Height, weight A-B=C

Examples of Ratio Data

Weight Time Money in checking account Length or Width of some item Salary Age

Types of Data (Scales or Levels of Measurement)

Characteristic Classify Order Equal Intervals Absolute zero Nominal + Ordinal + + Interval + + + Ratio + + + +

The manner in which you collect your data dictates the manner in which you will be able to treat analyze your data

Common Errors in Determining Level of Measurement For Data Analysis Purposes

Several errors appear to be somewhat common when the researcher defines the level of measurement for the variables of interest. These include: 1. Converting labels to numbers and treating the variables as if they are interval. In essence, making nominal data interval/ratio in nature 2. Confusing percentage and percentile.

Common Errors in Determining Level of Measurement For Data Analysis Purposes

3. Collecting interval measures on an ordinal-scale measurement, then treating the variable as if it were interval. 4. Not reporting in the data analysis section of the methodology how the variables will be treated. 5. Reporting statistics on raw data after raw scores have been grouped without indicating the basics of statistics.