MATH 1040 - Introduction to Statistics

Lesson 1.3 Levels of Measurement

Lesson 1.3 Levels of Measurement

Reading

Reading sections are from the Introductory Statistics Textbook

Lesson

We can distinguish variables by what they measure. There are 4 levels of measurement: Nominal (the base level, describing most basic information), Ordinal, Interval, Ratio (the highest level with the most information).

Level Summary
Ratio (Highest) Gives information with a numerical order
(Zero has a meaning)
Interval Gives information with a numerical order
(No absolute zero)
(Zero is just a reference point)
Ordinal Gives information with an order
Nominal (Base Level) Gives information

Practice

Here are a few variables. Determine if they are Quantitative or Categorical, then determine the level of measurement of each variable. Once you have identified the level of measurement, move your mouse over each variable to see the answer.

  1. Age
  2. Name
  3. Temperature (given in degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius)
  4. Pain Level (for example, “rate your pain on a scale of 1-10”)
  5. Time of the day
  6. Weight
  7. Book Title
  8. Grade in school (Both 5th, 6th, 7th, … and Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior)
  9. ZIP Code
  10. Time to run a race
  11. GPA