BASIC Level of Measurement Flow Chart Can the values

of your
variable be put
into a
meaningful
order?

YES NO

Your variable is
NOMINAL. Example:
Do you know the precise
Political party with
spacing/distance between
answer options (1)
each value your variable
Democrat, (2)
can take on?
Republican, (3)
Independent, (4) Other

YES NO

Your variable
Your variable is is ORDINAL.
INTERVAL/RATIO. Does your
Example: Age when variable have
reported in years. 7 or more
categories?

YES NO

Treat this variable as a

Although your variable is typical ORDINAL
ORDINAL, you will variable. Rather than
likely analyze it as if it is being numerically
an interval/ratio variable. meaningful, it is useful
You can consider this as a grouping variable
variable to be: "Ordinal, (which means you treat
treated as interval/ratio" it more like a nominal
Example: Happiness variable). Example:
measured on a scale of 1 Happiness with answer
(not at all happy) to 7 options: (1) Not at all
(very happy). happy, (2) Neutral, (3)
Very happy

1
BASIC Statistical Analysis Flow Chart