Final answer:
The three levels of social validation—Nominal, Ordinal, and Interval—are important in research to ensure data is measured correctly and to guarantee the study's measurements are accurate and reliable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three levels of social validation are Nominal, Ordinal, and Interval, and are important for establishing correct statistical procedures in research because they determine how data can be measured and used in calculations. Nominal scale level data is qualitative and consists of categories such as colors or yes/no responses and cannot be ordered meaningfully. Ordinal scale level data can be ordered, like ranks, but the differences between data points cannot be measured. Interval scale level data has a definite order and the differences can be measured, although there is no true zero point, making it impossible to calculate ratios.
Validation is critically important because it ensures that a study measures what it is designed to measure accurately. Each concept or variable in a study must be carefully defined in terms of the steps taken to measure it, in order to collect data in a systematic and replicable manner. This validation process ensures the reliability and validity of the research findings.