Question

Determine whether the following possible responses should be classified as ratio, interval, nominal or ordinal data. 1. The college (Arts and Science, Business, etc.) you are enrolled in | 2. The starting salaries of new Ph.D. graduates from a statistics program 3. The type of car you currently drive 4. The size of fries (small, medium, large) ordered by a sample of Burger King customers

Answer 1

• Nominal scale:

In this scale, categories are nominated names (hence “nominal”). There is no inherent order between categories. Put simply, one cannot say that a particular category is superior/ better than another.

• Ordinal scale:

The various categories can be logically arranged in a meaningful order. However, the difference between the categories is not “meaningful”.

• Interval scale:

The values (not categories) can be ordered and have a meaningful difference, but doubling is not meaningful. This is because of the absence of an “absolute zero”.

• Ratio scale:

The values can be ordered, have a meaningful difference, and doubling is also meaningful. There is an “absolute zero”.

1.The college (arts, science and business) you are enrolled in- NOMINAL

2.The starting salaries of new Ph.D graduates from statistic program- RATIO

3. The type of car you currently drive- NOMINAL

4.The size of fries ( small, medium and large) ordered- ORDINAL

Answer 2

The type of car you currently drive