Question

Identify the level of measurement of the data, and explain what is wrong with the given calculation. Ina set of data, alert levels are represented as 1 for low, 2 for medium, and 3 for high. The average mean of the 522 alert levels is 1.3. The data are at the ________ level of measurement. a. Nominalb. Ordinalc. Ratiod. IntervalWhat is wrong with the given calculation?a. Such data should not be used for calculations such as an average.b. One must use a different method to take the average of such datac. The true average is 2.5d. There is nothing wrong with the given calculation.

Answer 1

(1) Ordinal

(2) Such data should not be used for calculations such as an average.

Explanation:

Given

`1 \to Low`

`2 \to Medium`

`3 \to High`

`Average = 1.3`

Solving (a): The level of measurement

When observations are presented in ranks such as:

`1 \to Low`

`2 \to Medium`

`3 \to High`

The level of measurement of such observation is ordinal

Solving (b): What is wrong with the computation?

Ordinal level of measurement are not numerical values whose average can be calculated because they are used as ranks.

Hence, (a) is correct