Which characteristic is a key difference between ratio and interval scales?

The nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales are levels of measurement in statistics. These scales are broad classifications describing the type of information recorded within the values of your variables. Variables take on different values in your data set. For example, you can measure height, gender, and class ranking. Each of these variables uses a distinct level of measurement.

Stanley Smith Stevens developed these four scales of measurements in 1946. Analysts continue to use them today because how you record your data affects what you can learn from them and the statistical analyses you can perform.

Nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales are the four primary levels of measurement. These levels are listed in increasing order of the detailed information they provide. Let’s take a look at these measurement scales!

Related post: What is a Variable?

Nominal Scales

A nominal scale simply names categories that values for the variable can fall within. Nominal = name. Analysts also refer to nominal variables as both attribute and categorical data.

Nominal scales have values that you can assign to a countable number of distinct groups based on a characteristic. You can name the categories, but they have no natural order. In some cases, nominal data can define groups in your data that you want to compare, such as the experimental conditions of the treatment and control groups.

Examples of nominal scales include gender, marital status, college major, and blood type.

Binary variables are a type of nominal data. These data can have only two values. Statisticians also refer to binary data as indicator variables and dichotomous data. For example, male/female, pass/fail, and the presence/absence of an attribute are all binary data.

The nominal scale is the lowest level of measurement because you can only group the observations, and you cannot order the groups.

Learn more in-depth about Nominal Data: Definition & Examples.

Appropriate Calculations for Nominal Scales

You cannot calculate the mean, median, or standard deviation for nominal variables because you only have information about categories. The mode is the proper measure of central tendency for nominal scales because it identifies the most common category.

With nominal data, you frequently need to evaluate the categories’ relative frequencies. Consequently, pie charts and bar charts are conventional methods for graphing these variables because they display counts and relative frequencies for each group. For statistical tests, you can use proportion tests.

Related posts: Measures of Central Tendency and Relative Frequencies

Ordinal Scales

A ratings system that uses stars is an ordinal scale.

Ordinal scales also name groups in your data, but you can place these groups in a natural order. While the order is crucial, the differences between values might not be consistent. In other words, you can rank the values, but you don’t know the relative degrees of difference between them.

Examples of ordinal scales include:

• Education level (primary, secondary, post-secondary).
• Income (low, middle, and high).
• Overall status (poor to excellent).
• Likert and other scales of agreement (strongly disagree to strongly agree).
• Rank (such as sporting teams and class standings).

Ordinal data have a combination of properties from nominal scales and quantitative properties. On the one hand, these variables have a limited number of discrete values like nominal data. On the other hand, the differences between values provide order information like quantitative variables. However, the difference between adjacent values might not be consistent. For example, first, second, and third in a race are ordinal data. The difference in time between first and second place might not be the same as between second and third place.

Ordinal variables are a step higher than nominal scales as a level of measurement. These scales group observations, like nominal data, but they also allow you to rank-order the values.

Learn more in-depth about Ordinal Data: Definition, Examples & Analysis.

Appropriate Calculations for Ordinal Scales

Analysts often represent ordinal scales using numbers, such as a 1-5 Likert scale that measures satisfaction. In number form, you can calculate average scores as with quantitative variables. However, the numbers have limited usefulness because the differences between ranks might not be constant. Consequently, many statisticians consider the mean to be an inappropriate measure for ordinal data.

However, the median is a valid measure of central tendency for ordinal variables because the median refers to the middle-ranked value—perfect for rank-order data.

When you need to measure the dispersion of ordinal data, use the range, interquartile range, or the spread between two percentiles.

Related posts: Median Definition and Uses, Interquartile Range, and Percentiles: Interpretations and Calculations

Interval Scales and Ratio Scales for Continuous Data

Continuous variables can take on all numeric values, and the scale can be meaningfully separated into smaller increments, including fractional and decimal values. There are an infinite number of values between any two values. And differences between any two values are always meaningful. Typically, you measure continuous variables on a scale.

Examples of continuous data include height, weight, and temperature.

Statisticians divide continuous data into two types that you measure using interval and ratio scales.

Interval scales

Interval scales frequently record continuous data, but not always—credit and SAT scores are integers. On these scales, the order of values and the interval, or distance, between any two points is meaningful. For example, the 20-degree difference between 10 and 30 Celsius is equivalent to the difference between 50 and 70 degrees. However, these variables don’t have a zero measurement that indicates the lack of the characteristic. For example, zero Celsius represents a temperature rather than a lack of temperature.

Due to this lack of a true zero, measurement ratios are not valid for interval scales. Thirty degrees Celsius is not three times the temperature as 10 degrees Celsius. You can add and subtract values on an interval scale, but you cannot multiply or divide them.

Examples of interval scales include temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit, credit scores (300-850), SAT scores (200-800), and dates on a calendar.

Interval scales are a step higher than ordinal data as a level of measurement. This type allows you to order the values, like ordinal data, but it also allows you to assess the degree of difference between any two values.

With interval scales, you can calculate the mean and standard deviation for the central tendency and variability measures, respectively. However, the median and interquartile range can be more appropriate for skewed distributions.

The coefficient of variation is not valid for this type of measurement because it incorporates a ratio, which leads us to the next section!

Related post: Skewed Distributions

Ratio Scales

Ratio scales typically use continuous data. For this level of measurement, intervals are still meaningful. Additionally, these variables have zero measurements representing a lack of the attribute. For example, zero kilograms indicates a lack of weight. Consequently, measurements ratios are valid for these scales. 30 kg is three times the weight of 10 kg. You can add, subtract, multiply, and divide values on a ratio scale.

Examples of ratio scales include temperature in Kelvin (with its absolute zero that represents no temperature), height, weight, speed, and time periods.

Ratio scales are the top level of measurement. Like interval scales, they let you order observations and know the difference between any two values. Additionally, they allow you to assess ratios. A height of 4m is twice as tall as 2m. A period of 10 minutes is twice as long as 5 minutes.

Ratio scales allow you to calculate the same statistics as interval scales plus ratios. Consequently, a measurement like the coefficient of variation is valid for this type of measurement.

Related post: Coefficient of Variation

Summary of Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio Scales

Knowing whether your data use the nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio level of measurement can help you avoid analysis mistakes. Consider the following table that summarizes the capabilities of the various levels.

ValidNominalOrdinalIntervalRatioFrequency DistributionsYesYesYesYesMedian, percentile rangesNoYesYesYesAddition, subtraction, mean, standard deviationNoNoYesYesMultiplication, division, ratios, coefficient of variationNoNoNoYes

Related post: Frequency Distributions

Choosing Your Levels of Measurement

Frequently, the data you need to collect dictates your choice of measurement scale. For instance, if you’re recording gender, eye color, and marital status, those are definitely nominal data. However, if you’re recording time and temperature values, those are either interval or ratio scales. If you’re ranking sports teams, it’ll be an ordinal data.

Occasionally, you’ll need to decide which measurement scale to use. For example, you might want to compare ordinal income groups (low, middle, high). You could also measure income using their currency values, which is a ratio scale.

In these situations, you want to record the data using the level of measurement closest to the ratio end of the spectrum whenever possible. If you wish, you can always recode higher levels down to lower levels, such as converting ratio scales to ordinal and nominal data. However, suppose you only record the nominal or ordinal level of measurement. In that case, you can’t later recode it up to a higher level because you won’t have the necessary detail.

For example, you can recode income in currency to low-, middle-, and high-income groups. However, if you have only the subjects’ income groups, you can’t recover their income in currency.

Color is an interesting variable. If you’re recording eye, hair, and clothes color, it’ll always be an ordinal variable. However, in physics, color is more appropriately a ratio scale variable of wavelength.

Occasionally, you can convert an interval to a ratio scale. For example, you can convert temperature in Celsius (Interval) to Kelvin (ratio).

For more information about graphing and analyzing data by their levels of measurement, read the following posts:

What is the difference between interval scale and ratio scale?

What is the difference between ratio and interval?

What is the key difference between ratio and interval scales quizlet?

What is the main difference between a ratio variable and an interval variable?