The Topic Scale of Measurement is Relevant for UGC NET Commerce and Management as Follows:

Scales of Measurement

Introduction to Scale of Measurement

Scale of Measurement are used to identify, categorize and quantify the variables. It was developed by Stanley Smith Stevens. Stevens in 1946 proposed the theory titled “On the theory of scales of measurements”. In his article Stevens claimed that all measurements in science was conducted using four different types of numerical scales which he called Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and ratio scales.

Nominal Scale of Measurement

  • No order / no comparing values.
  • Nominal scales are used for labeling variables, without any quantitative value.
  • Nominal scales would be simply called “Labels”.
  • Scales are mutually exclusive(no overlap).
  • None of them have any numerical significance


  1. Gender- Male/ Female

2. Marital status: Yes/No

3. Registration number assigned to students

4. Have you visited Bangalore ?  Yes /No.

Mutually exclusive: Two or more events which cannot occur simultaneously. A mutually exclusive event occurs when there can be only one outcome like rolling a dice, tossing a coin etc

Ordinal Scale of Measurment

  • Order, rank, Qualitative data.
  • Classifies data into categories that can be ranked/ ordered.
  • Precise differences between the ranks don’t exist.
  • It has ordered relationship to every other value on the scale.
  • An ordinal scale is used as a comparison parameter to understand whether the variables are > or < than one another using sorting.


  • A is taller than B but their actual heights are not available.
  • After a customer shops from a retail outlet, he/she is asked to fill out a survey. On a scale of 1-5, how was your shopping experience?

1. indicates extremely unsatisfactory.

2. indicates unsatisfactory.

3. indicates neutral

4. indicates satisfactory.

5. indicates extremely satisfactory.

Interval Scale of Measurement

  • The interval level of measurement ranks data.
  • Classifies data into groups/categories.
  • Precise differences between units do exist.
  • There is no meaningful zero(Starting point).
  • It measures the values of Quantitative random variables.


  • Fahrenheit scale to measure temperature.
  • The scale is made up of equal temperature units so that the difference between40 and 50 degree is equal to difference between 50 and 60 degree.
  • With an interval scale you know only know whether difference between values are bigger or smaller. You also know how much bigger or smaller they are.
  • Suppose its 60 degree F on Monday and 70 degree on Tuesday. You not only know it was hotter on Tuesday but you also know it was 10 degree hotter.

Ratio Scale of Measurement

  • Processes all the characteristics of interval measurements.
  • Data can be ranked.
  • There exists a true zero or starting point.
  • Differences and ratios are meaningful.
  • Units along the scale are equal to one another.


What is your height in feet and inches?

  • Less than 5 feet
  • 5 feet 1 inch – 5 feet 5 inches
  • 5 feet 6 inches – 6 feet
  • More than 6 feet


What is your weight in kgs?

  • Less than 50kgs
  • 51-70 kgs
  • 71-90 kgs
  • 91-110 kgs

Practice Question for Scale of Management

If the grading of diabetics is classified as mild, moderate and severe the scale of measurement used is:

A. Interval

B. Nominal

C. Ordinal

D. Ratio

Solution: C

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