Levels Of Measurement

• What is the purpose of levels of measurement in psychology?

  To decide what data to record and measure
• What types of data might psychologists record?

  Raw data, rating scales, precise measurements
• What are the three types of data discussed in the video?

  Nominal, ordinal, and interval data
• What is nominal data?

  • Data referring to categories
  • Also called categorical data
  • Example: pet ownership frequency
• How is nominal data collected in the pet ownership example?

  By counting the number of pets in categories
• Can we compare differences between categories in nominal data?

  No, categories do not interact meaningfully
• What is ordinal data?

  • Data that can be ordered
  • Differences between points are not equal
  • Examples: race positions, height, happiness scale
• What does ordinal data allow us to do?

  Order data points but not measure differences
• What is interval data?

  Data with equal units of measurement
• What is an example of interval data?

  Measuring length in millimeters
• What is ratio data?

  Interval data with an absolute zero point
• Why is temperature in degrees Celsius considered interval data?

  It can have negative values
• How can nominal, ordinal, and interval data describe a race?

  • Nominal: Competitors' countries of origin
  • Ordinal: Order of finishers
  • Interval: Time differences between runners
• What does ordinal data tell us about the race results?

  It shows the order of finishers
• How does interval data enhance our understanding of the race?

  It shows precise time differences between runners
• What is the process to convert interval data to ordinal data?

  1. Rank participants from highest to lowest score
  2. Share rank positions for equal scores
• How do you convert ordinal data to nominal data?

  1. Create separate categories
  2. Divide participants into categories based on rank
• Why is it important to understand levels of measurement?

  It affects how data is analyzed and interpreted
• How do the different levels of measurement impact data analysis?

  They determine the precision and type of analysis