nadus 2. For the following, indicate whether the measure is nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio. a. Multiple choice exam scores b. SSN c. Student identification number d. GPA e. Degrees Celsius f. Miles per gallon g. Gender h. Likert Scale course evaluations i. Bronze, silver, gold medals
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Answer:
- a. Multiple choice exam scores: Ratio
- b. SSN (Social Security Number): Nominal
- c. Student identification number: Nominal
- d. GPA (Grade Point Average): Interval
- e. Degrees Celsius: Interval
- f. Miles per gallon: Ratio
- g. Gender: Nominal
- h. Likert Scale course evaluations: Ordinal
- i. Bronze, silver, gold medals: Ordinal
Explanation:
- Nominal: Represents data that labels or names categories without implying any order or magnitude. Examples include:
- SSN and Student identification number: Both are unique identifiers, and their values do not represent any intrinsic order or numerical relationship.
- Gender: Categorical with no implied order (e.g., male, female, nonbinary).
- Ordinal: Represents data with a meaningful order, but the intervals between ranks are not consistent or defined.
- Likert Scale course evaluations: Respondents rank their satisfaction (e.g., from 1 = “strongly disagree” to 5 = “strongly agree”). The scale suggests order but does not assume equal spacing between points.
- Bronze, silver, gold medals: These represent rankings, but the differences in performance between the levels are not quantified.
- Interval: Represents data with meaningful intervals between values, but it lacks a true zero point.
- GPA: While it measures academic performance with equal intervals, it cannot reach an absolute zero (e.g., a GPA of 0 does not indicate the absence of performance).
- Degrees Celsius: The temperature scale has equal intervals, but 0°C is not an absolute zero—temperatures can go lower.
- Ratio: Similar to interval data, but with a true zero point, allowing for the calculation of ratios.
- Multiple choice exam scores: A score of 0 indicates the complete absence of correct answers.
- Miles per gallon: A value of 0 indicates no fuel efficiency.
By understanding these distinctions, researchers can appropriately analyze and interpret data based on its measurement level.