Quant #10: Levels of Measurement

In quantitative research, four levels of measurement are distinguished. These levels include nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio levels. The nominal level of measurement denotes a level that has two or more unordered categories. This level can include examples such as names and labels of variables' characteristics. The ordinal level of measurement consists of ordered categories where the difference in magnitude between categories is not equal. Examples of this level can be rank-ordered names and labels.

The interval level is made of ordered categories whose difference between categories is equal (unlike the case of the ordinal level) and meaningful. Additionally, this level of measurement has no true zero. A common example of this level is temperature readings. The distance between 40 and 50 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale is the same as the distance between 50 and 60. Plus, there is no absolute zero in this example. Lastly,  the ratio level consists of ordered categories whose difference between levels is equal. Furthermore, this level of measurement has a true zero. An example of this level can be the number of people who attend an event. Kelvin's temperature meets the requirement of a ratio level of measurement as well since it has a true zero.