MEASUREMENT

Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and

Ratio variables and the
concepts of Reliability and
Validity

This lecture is brought to you by:

The letter
Can you say
Research?

What is a variable?
Any characteristic that can take on

more than one form or value.

Something that can, and does, vary.
Variables are what are measured.
They represent the properties of an
object that we are interested in
measuring.
What is measurement?

What is measurement?
Conceptualization or conceptual definition.
Assigning numbers to represent the (often
hidden) values or properties of a variable.

Linking a concept (idea) to a measure

(technique) to make it empirically
observable.

There are two systems for

numbering:
The abstract set
Variable specific characteristics

The abstract set

Has formal rules and procedures.
Forms the subject of mathematics.

Variable specific set

Represents the properties of the variable

being measured.
Specifically it represents the differences in
value that a variable can take:
A,B,C,D and F represent the values of a grading
system and the relationships between values:
Outstanding work ; Very good to excellent
work; Adequate work ;Passing work that is
minimally adequate, Failing work that is clearly
inadequate and unworthy of credit.

The challenge is
To merge the rules that govern the

abstract set with those that govern

the variable specific set, without
violating the principles of either.
If A=4; B=3; C=2; D=1; and F=0
is an A four times as good as a D?

Abstract numbers have

properties
Identity

each number has particular meaning, and the

categories are discrete.

Magnitude (order)

there is an inherent order from large to small

Interval

the difference between 7 and 8 is the same

increment as between 194 and 195

A true zero

There is a true (real) absence of the property.

Not all numbers are equal!!

Stevens (1946) classified variables
into four levels.
These are referred to as level of
measurement, or levels of data.
Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio

Nominal variables
The least like real numbers.
The only property they have is

identity or name (nominal=name).

Numbers if used are simply codes for
the real names of the properties.

Nominal
Which recreational activities do you participate
in?
(Please circle the number of all that apply )
1
2
3
4
5

HIKING
FISHING
PICNICKING
BOATING
SWIMMING

Nominal
Which recreational activities do you
participate in? (Please list the activities in
the spaces below)
1__Baking brownies_________
2__Underwater Ping-pong_____
3__Cow tipping_____________
4__Reading Statistics books____

Four people ran in the race

We know their names!

Earl

Greg

Mike

Matt

Ordinal variables
Have identity
Have magnitude (order). A>B>C>D.
We know relative order.
We DO NOT know how much better A

was relative to B.
Consider two races in which we know
the order of finish (ranks).

Ordinal variables
Earl=1
Greg=2
Mike=3
Matt=4

KC=1
Sarah=2
Liza=3
Marci=4

Can we say who was fastest overall?

Was Marci, who was slowest in her race,
faster or slower than Greg, who was second
in his race?

Four people ran in the race

1
2

We know the order they finished in

3
4

Earl

Greg

Mike

Matt

Ordinal
Which recreational activities are most
important to you? (In the spaces below
please write in the names of the three
most important activities selected form
the list below)
MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITY
____________
2nd MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITY
_____________
3rd MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITY

__________

Ordinal
The interval, or distance between
numbers is unequal and unknown:
Idaho

MN

ND

Skiing
Rugby
Opera
AxeThrow

AxeThrow
Skiing
Opera
Rugby

AxeThrow
Rugby
Skiing
Opera

What is most popular overall?

RANK
1
2
3
4

Ordinal
The interval, or distance between
numbers is unequal and unknown:
AVERAGE Rank overall RANK
Skiing
2.0
1
AxeThrow 2.3
2
Rugby
2.7
3
Opera
3.3
4

Interval variables
Have identity and magnitude.
Also have known distance between values.
Form a true scale, but without a zero point.
Temperature:
Is August 31, at 100F twice as hot as
September 18 at 50F?
There is a true zero, isnt there??

Four people ran in the race

We know how far apart they finished,
but when did they START?

3:15pm

3:21pm
3:22pm
4:19pm

Earl

Greg

Mike

Matt

Four people ran in the race

We know how far apart they finished,
but when did they START?

3:15pm

3:21pm
3:22pm
4:19pm

Earl is 1:04 faster than Matt

Earl

Greg

Mike

Matt

Interval
What is your current age? (Please
check the letter that best matches
your age)
A. 11-15
B. 16-20
C. 21-25
D. 26-30
C. 31-35 . . . . . . .etc.

Interval
How important are each of the following activities to you?
How important is each activity to you?
(Please circle one response for each activity)

ACTIVITY
1. HIKING

EXTREMELY

QUITE

MODERATELY

SOMEWHAT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

2. FISHING

EXTREMELY

QUITE

MODERATELY

SOMEWHAT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

3. PICNICKING

EXTREMELY

QUITE

MODERATELY

SOMEWHAT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

4. BOATING

EXTREMELY

QUITE

MODERATELY

SOMEWHAT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT

QUITE
IMPORTANT

MODERATELY
IMPORTANT

SOMEWHAT
IMPORTANT

5. SWIMMING
IMPORTANT

NOT VERY

NOT VERY

NOT VERY

NOT VERY

NOT VERY

Wondering where /what is the

interval here?
Pause to talk about the Bass et al.
handout on magnitude estimation ..
Bass, B. M., Cascio, W. F. & O'Connor,
E. J. (1974). Magnitude estimations of
expressions of frequency and amount.
Journal of Applied Psychology, 59(3),
310-320.

The LILAC /LAVENDER sheet

Interval
How important are each of the following activities to you?
How important is each activity to you?
(Please circle one response for each activity)

ACTIVITY
1. HIKING

EXTREMELY

QUITE

MODERATELY

SOMEWHAT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

2. FISHING

EXTREMELY

QUITE

MODERATELY

SOMEWHAT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

3. PICNICKING

EXTREMELY

QUITE

MODERATELY

SOMEWHAT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

4. BOATING

EXTREMELY

QUITE

MODERATELY

SOMEWHAT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT

QUITE
IMPORTANT

MODERATELY
IMPORTANT

SOMEWHAT
IMPORTANT

5. SWIMMING
IMPORTANT

From Table 2:

~48

~36

~24

NOT VERY

NOT VERY

NOT VERY

NOT VERY

NOT VERY

~12

Interval = 12 semantic units (units of meaning)

~0

Ratio Variables
Have identity, magnitude and interval.
And since they have a true zero, they
can be expressed as ratios of each
other.
They are true numbers.
All mathematical properties apply.
The represent score data.

Four people ran in the race

1:45

The race started at 1:30 P.M.

1:51
1:52
2:49

Earl

Greg

Mike

Matt

Four people ran in the race

1:45

The race started at 1:30 P.M.

1:51
1:52
2:49

Earl is 58.23% faster than Matt

Earl

Greg

Mike

Matt

Ratio
How much time did you spend
participating in each of these activities?
(Please write in the number of hours for
each activity in the spaces below)
I SPENT ______ HOURS HIKING
I SPENT ______ HOURS FISHING
I SPENT ______ HOURS PICNICKING
I SPENT ______ HOURS BOATING
I SPENT ______ HOURS SWIMMING

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Reliability and Validity

Reliability = dependability;

consistency; repeatability
Validity = accuracy; truthfulness; the
degree of match between the
construct or the way it is
conceptualized or defined) and a
measure of the concept. How well an
idea fits reality.

Reliability
Repeated use of the measure with

identical subjects yields identical and

consistent results. It is improved by:

Clear conceptualization
Precise measurement
Multiple indicators
Pilot-testing

Validity
Specifically, measurement validity
Measures are valid for a single purpose
Three types of validity:
Faceas judged by others or by logic
Contentcaptures the entire meaning of the
experience
Criterionagrees with a validates, reliable
external source:

Concurrent, agrees with a preexisting measure

Predictive, agrees with a future behavior or outcome

Validity
Internal Validity design and

measurement concerns that reduces

chances for internal errors.
External Validity describes our
ability and intent to generalize to
subjects beyond our study sample.
Largely an issue of design and
sampling.

Validity and Reliability

Reliable,
NOT valid

Valid,
NOT Reliable

NOT Valid, NOT

Reliable

Valid AND
Reliable