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Reference.org
Level of measurement
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<p>Level of measurement or scale of measure is a classification that describes the nature of information within the values assigned to <a href="/facts/Dependent_and_independent_variables/dINfzIF2">variables</a>. Psychologist <a href="/facts/Stanley_Smith_Stevens/0JHM5XCT">Stanley Smith Stevens</a> developed the best-known classification with four levels, or scales, of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. This framework of distinguishing levels of measurement originated in psychology and has since had a complex history, being adopted and extended in some disciplines and by some scholars, and criticized or rejected by others. Other classifications include those by Mosteller and <a href="/facts/John_Tukey/2a5FbPWb">Tukey</a>, and by Chrisman. </p>