This document discusses different types of measurement scales used in research: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal scale involves categorizing objects with no order or magnitude implied. Ordinal scale ranks objects but the distances between ranks are unknown. Interval scale has equal distances between units of measurement. Ratio scale has all the properties of interval scale plus an absolute zero point, allowing comparisons using ratios. The document provides examples of each scale and their characteristics regarding magnitude, equal intervals, and absolute zeros. It concludes by citing references used.

1. BY: ANJU GAUTAM
Research Scholar

2. Research is systematic method consisting :
 Identification of the problem
Formulating a hypothesis
Collecting facts and data
Analysing the facts
Reaching to certain conclusion towards the concerned problem.

3.  Research methods are used for conduction of research.
 The methods are used by researchers in performing research
operations.
 It relies on empirical evidence.
 It utilizes relevant concepts.
 It consists of statistical techniques.
 It evaluates the accuracy of the result obtained.

4. According to Tyler (1963)
“ Measurement is assignment of numerals, according to
rules”.
According to Nunnally (1970)
“Measurement consists of rules for assigning numbers to
objects in such a way as to represent quantities of attributes”.

5. Nominal
scale
Ordinal
scale
Interval
or equal
interval
Scale
Ratio
Scale

6.  Nominal scale is the lowest level of measurement.
 In nominal measurement numbers are used to name, identify and
classify person, objects or groups.
 In this scale of measurement two groups are never equivalent .
 There is no order of magnitude to the categories.
 Example : A sample of persons being studied may be classified as :
-Based on religion ( hindu , muslim,sikh etc)
-On the basis of sex
-Rural or Urban

7.  Addition , subtraction , multiplication and division are not
possible.
 It is most elementary and simple.

8.  The second level of measurement .
 Ordinal means “order”.
 Rank orders represents ordinal scales.
 Frequently used in research relating to qualitative phenomena.
 Ordinal measures have no absolute value and the real differences
between adjacent rank may not be equal.
 Example : - Greater than or less than
- Rank first second third

9.  The drawback of ordinal measurement is that ordinal
measures are not absolute quantities, nor do they convey that
the distance between the different rank value is equal.

10.  The third level of measurement.
 It includes all the characteristics of the nominal and ordinal
scales of measurement.
 It is numerically equal distances on the scale indicate equal
distances in the properties of the objects being measured.
 The units of measurement is constant and equal.

11.  It is the highest level of measurement.
 It has all the properties of nominal, ordinal and interval scales of
measurement.
 It has an absolute zero or true zero point.
 The ration scale is that the ratio of any two numbers is
independently of the unit of measurement. It can meaningfully
equated.
 Example : 16:28 is equal to 4:7

12.  An absolute zero is said to exist when nothing of property
being measured exists.
 For example : if a psychologist wants to asses shyness on a
scale from 0 through 5, it is very hard to define what it means
for a person to have absolutely no shyness.

13. Types of scale Magnitude Equal interval Absolute zero
Nominal No No No
Ordinal Yes No No
Interval Yes Yes No
Ratio Yes Yes Yes

14. o Singh .A.K. (2008). Tests , Measurements and Research Methods in Behavioural
Sciences.( 6th Ed). Patna: Bharati Bhawan Publisher. Pg 3- Pg 11
o Kothari.C.R. (1990). Research Methodology : Methods and Techniques. (2nd ED).
Jaipur: New Age International Publishers. Pg 1-pg 9

15. Thankyou