Question

Basic Stats for psychology

Suppose you conducted a survey of your classmates to determine how much money (in U.S. dollars) they intended to spend on Halloween candy this year. Which of the following scales of measurement would your measure fall under?

A. ordinal

B. interval

C. Ratio

Answer 1

Ratio

Explanation:

First lets understand various scales of measurement in psychology

1. Nominal: Separate numbers indicate separate objects. these no actual meaning other than separating between objects.

example: number on vests of football players

2.Ordinal: meaning order

example: place finished in a race 1st , 2nd

3. Interval: have no order

equal interval between the adjacent categories

the difference between two similar physical quantity is same

4. Ratio: Differences are meaningful like interval

ratios are meaningful , Existence of "true zero point"

Now in the above case money is spend to buy candies which is meaningful and if no money is spent no candies are purchased hence existence of "True zero point"

Hence Ratio scale would be most appropriate to measure this case