DR NEENA SONDHI

MEASUREMENT AND SCALING

DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES

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Meaning of Measurement and
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Scaling

 Measurement: The term ‘measurement’

means assigning numbers or some other
symbols to the characteristics of certain objects.
When numbers are used, the researcher must
have a rule for assigning a number to an
observation in a way that provides an accurate
description.
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 Scaling: Scaling is an extension of

measurement. Scaling involves creating a
continuum on which measurements on objects
are located.

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Types of Measurement Scale

Nominal scale: This is the lowest level of measurement. Here,
numbers are assigned for the purpose of identification of the
objects. Any object which is assigned a higher number is in no way
superior to the one which is assigned a lower number.

Example:
• Are you married?
(a) Yes (b) No
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 Married person may be assigned a no. 1.

 Unmarried person may be assigned a no. 2.

The assigned numbers cannot be added, subtracted, multiplied

or divided. The only arithmetic operations that can be carried out
are the count of each category. Therefore, a frequency
distribution table can be prepared for the nominal scale variables
and mode of the distribution can be worked out.

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Types of Measurement Scale

Ordinal scale: This is the next higher level of

measurement. One of the limitations of the nominal
scale measurements is that we cannot say
whether the assigned number to an object is
higher or lower than the one assigned to another
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option. The ordinal scale measurement takes care

of this limitation. An ordinal scale measurement
tells whether an object has more or less of
characteristics than some other objects.

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Types of Measurement Scale

Example:

Rank the following attributes while choosing a restaurant for

dinner. The most important attribute may be ranked one, the next
important may be assigned a rank of 2 and so on.

In the ordinal scale, the

assigned ranks cannot be
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added, multiplied, subtracted or

divided. One can compute
median, percentiles and
quartiles of the distribution.
The other major statistical
analysis which can be carried
out is the rank order correlation
coefficient, sign test.

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Types of Measurement Scale

Interval scale: The interval scale measurement is the next higher level of
measurement.
 It takes care of the limitation of the ordinal scale measurement where
the difference between the score on the ordinal scale does not have
any meaningful interpretation.
 In the interval scale the difference of the score on the scale has
meaningful interpretation.
 It is assumed that the respondent is able to answer the questions on a
continuum scale.
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 The mathematical form of the data on the interval scale may be written
as

Y=a+bX where a ≠ 0

 Ratio of the score on this scale does not have a meaningful

interpretation.

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Types of Measurement Scale

Example:

The numbers on this scale can be added,

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subtracted, multiplied or divided. One can

compute arithmetic mean, standard deviation,
correlation coefficient and conduct a t-test, Z-test,
regression analysis and factor analysis.

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Types of Measurement Scale

Ratio scale: This is the highest level of measurement and takes
care of the limitations of the interval scale measurement, where the
ratio of the measurements on the scale does not have a meaningful
interpretation.
 The mathematical form of the ratio scale data is given by Y = b X.
 In ratio scale, there is a natural zero (origin).

Example:
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How many chemist shops are there in your locality?

How many students are there in the MBA programme at IIFT?

 All mathematical and statistical operations can be carried out

using the ratio scale data.

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Definition of Attitude
 An attitude is viewed as an enduring disposition
to respond consistently in a given manner to
various aspects of the world, including persons,
events and objects.

Components of Attitude:
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 Cognitive component
 Affective component
 Intention or action component

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Classification of Scales
Single item vs multiple item scale:

 In the single item scale, there is only one item to

measure a given construct.

 In multiple item scale, there are many items that play

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a role in forming the underlying construct that the

researcher is trying to measure. This is because
each of the item forms some part of the construct
which the researcher is trying to measure.

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Classification of Scales
Comparative vs non-comparative scales
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Classification of Scales
 Comparative scales – In comparative scales it is assumed that
respondents make use of a standard frame of reference before
answering the question.
Example:-
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Classification of Scales
Formats of Comparative Scales –

 Paired comparison scales

 Rank order scale
 Constant sum rating scale
 Q-sort technique
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 Non-Comparative Scales – In the non-

comparative scales, the respondents do not make
use of any frame of reference before answering
the questions.

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Classification of Scales
Non-comparative scale

Graphic rating scale Itemized rating scale

Graphic Rating Scale – This is a continuous scale and the

respondent is asked to tick his preference on a graph.
Examples:
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Classification of Scales
Please put a tick mark (•) on the following line to indicate your
preference for fast food.

Alternative Presentation of Graphic Rating Scale –

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Please indicate how much do you like fast food by pointing to the
face that best shows your attitude and taste. If you do not prefer it
at all, you would point to face one. In case you prefer it the most,
you would point to face seven.

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Classification of Scales
Itemized rating scale – In the itemized rating scale, the
respondents are provided with a scale that has a
number of brief descriptions associated with each of the
response categories. There are certain issues that
should be kept in mind while designing the itemized
rating scale.

 Number of categories to be used

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 Odd or even number of categories

 Balanced versus unbalanced scales
 Nature and degree of verbal description
 Forced versus non-forced scales
 Physical form

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Classification of Scales
Examples of Itemized Rating Scales:

Likert scale
 The respondents are given a certain number of items (statements) on
which they are asked to express their degree of
agreement/disagreement.
 This is also called a summated scale because the scores on individual
items can be added together to produce a total score for the
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respondent.
 An assumption of the Likert scale is that each of the items (statements)
measures some aspect of a single common factor, otherwise the scores
on the items cannot legitimately be summed up.
 In a typical research study, there are generally 25 to 30 items on a Likert
scale.

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Classification of Scales
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Example of a Likert Scale:

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Classification of Scales
Semantic Differential Scale
 This scale is widely used to compare the images of
competing brands, companies or services.
 Here the respondent is required to rate each attitude or
object on a number of five-or seven-point rating scales.
 This scale is bounded at each end by bipolar adjectives or
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phrases.
 The difference between Likert and Semantic differential
scale is that in Likert scale, a number of statements (items)
are presented to the respondents to express their degree
of agreement/disagreement. However, in the semantic
differential scale, bipolar adjectives or phrases are used.

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Classification of Scales
Example of Semantic Differential Scale:
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Classification of Scales
Example of Semantic Differential Scale: (Pictorial Profile)
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Classification of Scales
 Stapel Scale
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Measurement Error
This occurs when the observed measurement on a construct or
concept deviates from its true values.

Reasons
 Mood, fatigue and health of the respondent

 Variations in the environment in which measurements are taken

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 A respondent may not understand the question being asked and

the interviewer may have to rephrase the same. While
rephrasing the question the interviewer’s bias may get into the
responses.
 Some of the questions in the questionnaire may be ambiguous
errors may be committed at the time of coding, entering of data
from questionnaire to the spreadsheet

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Criteria for good measurement

Reliability
Reliability is concerned with consistency, accuracy
and predictability of the scale.

Methods to measures Reliability

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 Test–retest reliability
 Split-half reliability
 Cronbach’s Alpha

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Criteria for good measurement

Validity
The validity of a scale refers to the question whether we are
measuring what we want to measure.

Different ways to measure Validity

 Content validity
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 Concurrent validity

 Predictive validity

Sensitivity
Sensitivity refers to an instrument’s ability to accurately measure
the variability in a concept.

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DR NEENA SONDHI

END OF CHAPTER
DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES