Identifying the Level of Data Measurement

Identify the following variables (Put ‘x’ where applicable). Data can’t both qualitative and quantitative. It has to be only one. If qualitative it is either nominal or ordinal. If quantitative, it is either interval or ratio.

 1 A non-numerical characteristics of an element of population such as employment status being listed as employed or unemployed.

2  A numerical characteristics of an element of population such as income of a household.

3  Nominal is the lowest level, representing classification only of qualitative data such as gender.

4  Ordinal involves  ratingand rank ordering measurements in which the intervals between consecutive numbers do not necessarily represent equal distances. Example: Rating or ranking a customer services as excellent, good, fair or bad.

5  Interval is the level of data measurement in which the distances represented by consecutive numbers are equal. Example: Air temperature measured in °C or °F.

6  Ratio is the highest level of data measurement and has all the qualities of interval measurement, but ratio data contain an absolute zero and ratios between numbers are meaningful.