Which data scale is described as ordered precisely and continuously with no meaningful zero value?

Which data scale is described as ordered precisely and continuously with no meaningful zero value?

• A. Interval
• B. Nominal
• C. Ratio
• D. Ordinal

Answer: (C)

This question is about how we classify measurement scales. The description—values that are ordered precisely, with equal spacing between them, and with no meaningful zero—fits interval data. The equal intervals mean you can talk about differences and averages meaningfully, but because zero is arbitrary, you can’t interpret ratios (for example, 20 is not twice 10 in a meaningful sense). That’s different from ratio data, which has a true, meaningful zero; from ordinal data, which has order but not guaranteed equal spacing; and from nominal data, which has categories with no inherent order. So the scale described is interval data.

This question is about how we classify measurement scales. The description—values that are ordered precisely, with equal spacing between them, and with no meaningful zero—fits interval data. The equal intervals mean you can talk about differences and averages meaningfully, but because zero is arbitrary, you can’t interpret ratios (for example, 20 is not twice 10 in a meaningful sense). That’s different from ratio data, which has a true, meaningful zero; from ordinal data, which has order but not guaranteed equal spacing; and from nominal data, which has categories with no inherent order. So the scale described is interval data.