Which of the following is NOT a level of measurement? nominal ratio qualitative ordinal
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is qualitative.
Explanation:
In statistics, the levels of measurement refer to the ways in which data can be categorized or classified. These levels are essential because they determine the type of statistical analysis that can be performed. There are four primary levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Let’s break down each of the options given:
- Nominal: This is the lowest level of measurement. Nominal data consists of categories that do not have a specific order. Examples include gender, ethnicity, or marital status. The only permissible operation on nominal data is counting, such as the frequency of occurrences in each category.
- Ordinal: Ordinal data involves categories that have a meaningful order or ranking, but the differences between the categories are not uniform. For example, education level (high school, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate) is ordinal, as there is a clear ranking, but the difference between each level is not necessarily equal or measurable.
- Ratio: Ratio data is the highest level of measurement. It has all the properties of interval data, but it also has a true zero point, which allows for the comparison of absolute magnitudes. Examples of ratio data include height, weight, and age. With ratio data, you can perform meaningful mathematical operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Qualitative: This term is not a level of measurement. It is a classification used to describe non-numerical data or categories that represent qualities or characteristics, such as colors, types of animals, or feelings. While qualitative data can be classified into nominal or ordinal categories, it is not itself a level of measurement. It is more of a descriptor of the nature of the data.
To summarize, qualitative is not a level of measurement, but rather a general term used for non-numeric data. The correct levels of measurement are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.