The level of measurement that has equal intervals between values and no true zero, as illustrated by Fahrenheit and Celsius, is which of the following?

The level of measurement that has equal intervals between values and no true zero, as illustrated by Fahrenheit and Celsius, is which of the following?

• A. Ordinal
• B. Ratio
• C. Nominal
• D. Interval

Answer: (D)

Equal intervals between values with no true zero define the interval level of measurement. Temperature scales like Celsius and Fahrenheit fit this: the difference between one degree and the next is the same everywhere, so you can talk about how much warmer one value is than another. But zero on these scales does not represent “no temperature.” Because zero is arbitrary, you can’t meaningfully say one value is twice another, which is a property of ratio scales. Nominal scales classify data into categories without order. Ordinal scales show order but not equal spacing between steps. Ratio scales have both equal intervals and a true zero, allowing meaningful ratios (like twice as much). The given example specifically matches interval because of equal spacing and absence of a true zero.

Equal intervals between values with no true zero define the interval level of measurement. Temperature scales like Celsius and Fahrenheit fit this: the difference between one degree and the next is the same everywhere, so you can talk about how much warmer one value is than another. But zero on these scales does not represent “no temperature.” Because zero is arbitrary, you can’t meaningfully say one value is twice another, which is a property of ratio scales.

Nominal scales classify data into categories without order. Ordinal scales show order but not equal spacing between steps. Ratio scales have both equal intervals and a true zero, allowing meaningful ratios (like twice as much). The given example specifically matches interval because of equal spacing and absence of a true zero.