Final Answer:
B. The four levels of measurement are: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement is B, "The four levels of measurement are: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio." This statement accurately reflects the four fundamental scales of measurement used in statistics.
In the realm of data analysis, understanding the level of measurement is crucial as it determines the statistical operations that can be applied. Nominal scale is the least precise, representing categories without any inherent order. Ordinal scale introduces a sense of order, but the intervals between values are not consistent. Interval scale maintains order with consistent intervals, but lacks a true zero point. Ratio scale, the highest level, has a true zero point, allowing for the interpretation of ratios.
While other statements (A, C, and D) touch upon valid concepts in statistics, they are not entirely accurate. For instance, statement A oversimplifies by categorizing data into only qualitative and quantitative, neglecting the more nuanced levels of measurement. Statement C is inaccurate because at the interval level, a zero does not indicate an absolute absence of the measured quantity. Statement D correctly identifies elements of a well-designed experiment, but the broader claim of the statement is not true.
Therefore, option B is the only statement that accurately represents the four levels of measurement in statistics.