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Four Types of Measurement Scales

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Introduction There are four measurement scales, or types of data, nominal, ordinal interval and ratio. These four measurements are simple ways to categorize different types of variables. This paper will discuss the usage of each scale.
Nominal
Nominal scales are the most commonly used in marketing research. Nominal scales are used for labeling variables, without any quantitative value. In fact, Nominal scales could be called “labels”. Nominal are categories with numbers assigned to them to facilitate analysis. “A nominal scale partitions data into categories that are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive, implying that every bit of data will fit into one and only one category and that all data will fit somewhere on the …show more content…

Examples: RULER: inches or centimeters YEARS of work experience INCOME: money earned last year NUMBER of children

Conclusion It's important to recognize that there is a hierarchy implied in the level of measurement idea. At lower levels of measurement, assumptions tend to be less restrictive and data analyses tend to be less sensitive. At each level up the hierarchy, the current level includes all of the qualities of the one below it and adds something new. In general, it is desirable to have a higher level of measurement (e.g., interval or ratio) rather than a lower one (nominal or

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