Classify the scale of measurement for the varibles given below.

Zip Code

• Nominal Scale

• Ordinal Scale

• Interval Scale

• Ratio Scale

Height

• (b) Ordinal Scale

• (a) Nominal Scale

• (d) Ratio Scale

• (c) Interval Scale

Answer explanation

Here’s why height is a ratio scale:

• Natural Order: Heights can be compared – someone 6 feet tall is twice as tall as someone 3 feet tall.

• Equal Intervals: The difference between height values is meaningful (e.g., 6 feet minus 3 feet equals 3 feet).

• True zero: The height of 0 represent the absence of height, making it a true zero points.

Weight

• Interval Scale

• Ordinal Scale

• Ratio Scale

• Nominal Scale

Answer explanation

• Natural Order: We can compare weights – someone weighing 100 kg is twice as heavy as someone weighing 50 kg.

• Equal Intervals: The difference between weight values is meaningful (e.g., 100 kg minus 50 kg equals 50 kg).

• True Zero: A weight of 0 kg represents the absence of weight, making it a true zero point

Time

• Ordinal Scale

• Nominal Scale

• Interval Scale

• Ratio Scale

Answer explanation

• True Zero: A time of 0 (such as midnight) represents the absence of time, making it a true zero point.

• Duration Example: Consider marathon times – the duration of time is a ratio variable because there is a true zero value (zero seconds).

• Someone who runs a marathon in 2 hours ran it in half the time as someone who ran it in 4 hours

IQ

• b) Ordinal Scale

• c) Interval Scale

• a) Nominal Scale

• d) Ratio Scale

Answer explanation

• Natural Order: IQ scores can be compared – someone with an IQ of 130 is higher than someone with an IQ of 100.

• Equal Intervals: The difference between IQ values is meaningful (e.g., 130 minus 100 equals 30).

• No True Zero: However, IQ doesn’t have a true zero point (i.e., an IQ of 0 doesn’t mean the absence of intelligence)

MUET SCORE

• Nominal Scale

• Ordinal Scale

• Interval Scale

• Ratio Scale

Rating Scale (Poor, Good Excellent)

• Nominal Scale

• Ratio Scale

• Ordinal Scale

• Interval Scale

Salary

• Ordinal Scale

• Interval Scale

• Ratio Scale

• Nominal Scale

Temperature

• Nominal Scale

• Ratio Scale

• Interval Scale

• Ordinal Scale

Answer explanation

• Natural Order: We can compare temperatures – 20°C is higher than 10°C.

• Equal Intervals: The difference between temperature values is consistent (e.g., 20°C minus 10°C equals 10°C).

• No True Zero: However, neither Celsius nor Fahrenheit has a true zero point. Zero doesn’t represent the absence of temperature; it’s an arbitrary point.

Age

• d) Ratio Scale

• b) Ordinal Scale

• c) Interval Scale

• a) Nominal Scale

Answer explanation

• Natural Order: We can compare ages – someone who is 20 years old is older than someone who is 10 years old.

• Equal Intervals: The difference between age values is consistent (e.g., 20 years minus 10 years equals 10 years).

• No True Zero: However, age doesn’t have a true zero (where age is absent). A newborn can be 0 years old, but it doesn’t mean the absence of age.