Question

Identify the level of measurement of the​ data, and explain what is wrong with the given calculation. In a set of​ data, mood levels are represented as 0 for bad, 1 for OK, and 2 for good. The average​ (mean) of the 637 mood levels is 0.9.

The data are at the______ of measurement.
a. ordinal
b. nominal
c. interval
d. ratio

Answer 1

The data in this question is at the ordinal scale level, and the given calculation is incorrect.

Step-by-step explanation:

The data in this question can be classified as ordinal scale level data. Ordinal data is data that can be ordered but the differences between the values cannot be measured. In this case, the mood levels are represented as 0 for bad, 1 for OK, and 2 for good. The values can be ordered from bad to good, but we cannot measure the difference between bad and OK, or between OK and good.

The calculation in the question is incorrect because the average (mean) of the mood levels is given as 0.9. However, since mood levels are represented by whole numbers (0, 1, 2), the average should also be a whole number. It is not possible to have a fractional mood level, so the given calculation is incorrect.

Answer 2

a. ordinal

Step-by-step explanation:

A level of measurement refers to a classification which is used to illustrate the attributes of the values assigned to variables. Basically, there are four (4) levels of measurement for a variable and these are;

1. Ratio: data can be arranged in an ordering scheme and subtracting its differences is meaningful with respect to the value of true zero. Examples are height, price, weight, distance etc.

2. Nominal: is characterized by data that are non-numerical, comprises of categories, labels or names and can't be arranged in an ordering scheme.

3. Interval: data can be arranged in an ordering scheme and subtracting its differences is meaningful. Examples are year, temperature, time etc.

4. Ordinal: data can be arranged in an ordering scheme but subtracting its differences is meaningless or impossible. Examples are happy, sad etc.

Therefore, the data are at the ordinal level of measurement because mood levels were represented as 0 for bad, 1 for OK, and 2 for good.

However, what is wrong with these given calculation; "average​ (mean) of the 637 mood levels is 0.9." is that the data presented in the question cannot be used to find an average (mean) because the various mood levels were not stated or given, which is a prerequisite for calculating the average (mean) of a population.