What is the distinction between nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio levels of measurement, and how does the number of something determine which of these categories it falls into?
Number can be used to measure a variety of things, but it can also be classified according to its level of measurement. The four levels of measurement are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal level measurements involve assigning categories to data, such as gender, nationality, or color. Ordinal level measurements involve assigning a rank or order to data, such as assigning a number to a list of items from least to most. Interval level measurements involve assigning a numerical value to data, such as temperature or time. Ratio level measurements involve assigning a numerical value to data that also has an absolute zero point, such as length or mass. The number of something determines which of these categories it falls into.
