Question

Veterinarians at a city zoo were interested in the physical characteristics of three different species of monkeys they had in captivity. So they collected measurements from a total of 42 different monkeys. Below are the first few records from the monkey dataset:

ID Age Sex Species Fur Fur Body Length Body Weight
(years) Color Length (inches) (pounds)
1 9 Female Howler brown short 23 11.2
2 2 Female Spider black medium 16 7.5
3 5 Male Spider grey medium 19 9.0
4 4 Female Woolly black medium 17 6.5
5 12 Male Woolly brown long 18 8.7
6 4 Female Howler brown short 21 7.1

Which of these variables is measured on a ordinal scale?
O None of these
O Fur color
O Age
O Fur length

Answer 1

The variable 'Fur Length' in the monkey dataset is measured on an ordinal scale, whereas fur color is nominal, and age and body weight are ratio scales.

Step-by-step explanation:

The variable measured on an ordinal scale in the dataset is Fur Length (short, medium, long), as it signifies a ranked order without specifying the exact difference between the ranks. The variable measured on an ordinal scale in the monkey dataset is Age. An ordinal scale is a type of measurement scale that represents values in a particular order, but the differences between the values are not necessarily equal.

Fur color, which consists of categories like brown or black without inherent order, is measured on a nominal scale. Age and Body Weight, on the other hand, are measured on a ratio scale as they have a true zero point and the differences between measured objects can be expressed as precise numerical differences. It's important to understand these distinctions, as they affect the statistical methods used to analyze the data. Recognition and proper classification of scales of measurement help in drawing more accurate and meaningful conclusions in scientific research.