discussion

Nominal scales are labels used in the research to identify a group or characteristic (Malec & Newman, 2013, p. 2.3).  An example this would be single mothers will be identified by the number 1 and married mothers will be identified by the number 2 in research done on the mental health of single mothers versus married mothers.  This type of scale will only be used for identification purposes not for in depth research. 

Ordinal scale is used to rank the variable used during in order when it comes to their place in the research or pattern.  For example, when looking at the research above if a questionnaire was used based on the answers given on a stress level scale how would you rank the single mothers stress level versus the married mothers stress level. 

“Interval scales represent cases where the numbers on a measured variable correspond to equal distances on a conceptual variable (Malec & Newman, 2013, p. 2.3)” To measure the stress levels of the mother’s one can used the Perceived Stress Scale.  According to Cohen (1994, p. 1), “The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is the most widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress. It is a measure of the degree to which situations in one’s life are appraised as stressful.”

The last scale of measure would be the ratio scale.  “Ratio scales go one final step further, representing interval scales that also have a true zero point, that is, the potential for a complete absence of the conceptual variable (Malec & Newman, 2013, p. 2.3).” In the research presented with the single mothers versus the married mothers it is possible to have zero stress level when it comes to raising your children alone versus having a partner.

One has found the ordinal scale to be the most difficult because you would have to decipher what the respondents has stated in the research.  If the respondent fails to answer a question it is possible to not get a true representation of the research being sought. 

References:

Cohen, S. (1994). Perceived stress scale.  Retrieved from http://www.mindgarden.com/documents/PerceivedStressScale.pdf

Malec, T. & Newman, M. (2013). Research methods: Building a knowledge base. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.