Identify the scale / scales of measurement which would allow ranking of observations.
A. nominal scale
B. ordinal scale
C. interval scale
D. ratio scale
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is B

The scales that allow ranking of observations are:
· B. Ordinal scale: This scale allows for ranking or ordering of data based on some qualitative criterion (e.g., ranking students by their grades).
· C. Interval scale: This scale allows for ranking, but it also has equal intervals between values (e.g., temperature scales).
· D. Ratio scale: This scale allows for ranking and has a true zero point (e.g., weight, height), making it suitable for both ranking and meaningful ratio comparisons.
Thus, the correct answer is (b) B, C, and D only.
Information Booster
· B. Ordinal scale: This scale allows for ranking or ordering of observations. For example, in a survey, respondents may rank their preferences from 1 to 5. However, the exact difference between ranks is unknown.
· C. Interval scale: The interval scale not only allows for ranking but also ensures that the intervals between values are equal (e.g., the difference between 20°C and 30°C is the same as between 30°C and 40°C). However, it lacks an absolute zero, which limits some comparisons (e.g., no "zero temperature" on the Celsius scale).
· D. Ratio scale: The ratio scale allows for both ranking and meaningful comparisons because it has a true zero point (e.g., zero height or zero weight). This means that one can say, for example, that 40 kg is twice as heavy as 20 kg.
Additional Information
· A. Nominal scale: This scale is purely categorical and does not allow for ranking. It is used for labeling variables without a specific order (e.g., colors, gender, nationality). Since it doesn’t provide a ranking system, it cannot be used to arrange observations in any meaningful order.