Basic statistics: Scales and their consequences

Scale of measurement is used to categorize and define numbers and variables in both quantitative and qualitative manner. There are four (4) scales of measurement : (Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio) which were used depending on the information that the data is intending to represent. Each scale tends to represent specific kind of information.

Nominal scale describes unrestricted assignment of numerals (Stevens, 1946). It is used to categorize data without any order or structure. As an example, a building can be classified for its type and use. As for the Burgundy Corporate Tower, it is classified as a Mixed-use Office/ Condominium Building (www.manilaoffice space.com, n.d.); this information only describes the building type, but doesn't specifically gives numerical values, such as the number of occupants, percentage of occupancy, building height, etc. Another example is to label the building's architectural style, the tower could be classified as an example of Postmodern Architecture. As defined from www.wikipedia.com, Postmodern architecture is also defined as neo-eclectic, where reference and ornament have returned to the facade, replacing the aggressively unornamented modern styles. This eclecticism is often combined with the use of non-orthogonal angles and unusual surfaces. This type of information only describe the physical characteristic of the building but doesn't necessarily define numerical values. Aside from categorizing the building's style, other information such as the type of occupants such as office tenants, residents, visitors, and in-house employee are data that can be described by this type of measurement.

Ordinal Scale represents ranking, order, or sequence. However, it does not necessarily specify interv...

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...etrieved: November 15, 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_the_Philippines

• Measurement Scales (n.d.) Retrieved: November 12, 2013 from http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~smarkham/resources/scaling.htm

• Postmodern Architecture (November 2013) Retrieved: November 28, 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodern_architecture

• Stevens S.S. (1946) Theory of Scale of Measurements Retrieved: November 26, 2013 from http://personal.stevens.edu/~ysakamot/719/week3/Stevens_Measurement.pdf

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• Topic #1: Introduction to Measurement and Statistics (n.d.) Retrieved: November 12, 2013 from http://lsc.cornell.edu/Sidebars/Stats%20Lab%20PDFs/Topic1.pdf