Please reply to this student post 3 small paragraphs. APA. less than 20 % similarity.
There are four level of measurement that are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal is considered the lowest level of measurement and divides into categories the results. Ordinal measurements sort candidates in their ranking of an attribute. Interval measurement measures distance between attributes. Lastly ratio measurements is the highest standard of measurement and provides information about the attribute, the intervals and the absolute meaning of the value (Polit & Beck, 2017).
For my quantitative research I would prefer to apply the highest form of measurement, the ratio. Even if this means a more complex collection of data, ratios provide the best and more precise results. Additionally, once we have the results at the highest level, we can always simplify them to a lower scale if the need so arises (Polit & Beck, 2017).
If for example my research is about the variation in the costs of a mammography. I would like to know the exact out of pocket amount for the procedure for each participant. If later I find that grouping prices will simplify the results without completely distorting them I can apply an interval measurement that still keeps a good representation of the sample.
References
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing Research. Alphen aan de Rijn, Netherlands: Wolters Kluwer.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The four levels of measurement – nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio – are used in research to determine the appropriate scale for data collection and analysis. Each level of measurement has its own characteristics and provides varying levels of information about the attribute being measured. In this response, the importance of choosing the appropriate level of measurement for quantitative research will be discussed, with a focus on favoring the highest level of measurement, ratio, for more precise results.
Response:
I agree with the student’s preference for using ratio measurement in quantitative research. Ratio measurement is considered the highest level of measurement as it provides the most detailed information about the attribute being measured. It not only categorizes the data into different groups but also establishes the intervals between attributes and provides an absolute meaning to the value. By employing ratio measurement, researchers can obtain more precise results, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under investigation.
In the example provided by the student, researching the variation in costs of a mammography, using ratio measurement would enable the researcher to determine the exact out-of-pocket amount for each participant. This level of measurement allows for a thorough analysis of the data, capturing the true essence of the attribute being measured. However, it is important to acknowledge that in some cases, simplifying the results to a lower scale, such as interval measurement, may be required for easier interpretation or categorization.
In conclusion, choosing the appropriate level of measurement is crucial in quantitative research as it directly impacts the precision and validity of the results. While the highest level of measurement, ratio, provides the most detailed information, it may occasionally be necessary to simplify the results for practical purposes. Therefore, researchers must carefully consider the nature of their research question and the level of detail required in order to select the most suitable level of measurement.
