What is a scale? Types of scales and their features

What is a scale? This is a sign system for which a mapping is specified. The element of the scale is mapped to real objects. We can say that the scale of measurements is a graduated ruler, on which values of any value (distance, temperature, pressure) are plotted. The problem associated with ensuring high quality products is inextricably linked with the quality of measurements. If the latter does not meet modern requirements of technical progress, there is no way to achieve the appropriate quality products. Next, we will tell you in detail about what a measurement scale is for. The types of measurement scales will also be discussed in detail in this article.

Measurement and quality of products

As it was said earlier, if the issues related to the accuracy of measuring the qualitative parameters of materials and other products, as well as the maintenance of regimes in production technology are successfully solved, the quality of the products will significantly improve. In simple words, quality control is the measurement of all parameters of technological processes. The results of their measurements are needed to control the process. The more accurate the results, the better the control.

The measurement state has the following main properties:

• Reproducibility of measurement results.
• Accuracy.
• Convergence.
• Speed of receipt.
• Unity of measurements.

The reproducibility of the results is the proximity of the measurement results of one magnitude that were obtained in different places, using different methods and means, at different times and different people, but under the same conditions (humidity, pressure, temperature).

The convergence of the measurement results is when the results of measurements of the same magnitude that were carried out repeatedly using the same means, by the same method, under the same conditions, with the same thoroughness, are close.

Any measurement is carried out using the appropriate scales.

The scale of measurements. Types of measurement scales. Examples

It has already been said that a scale means a number of certain marks that are ordered. This series corresponds to the ratio of the consecutive values of the measured value.

What is a measurement scale? This is a sequence of values of quantities that have a different size and are of the same name. It must be accepted by agreement.

In practice, five types of scales are used:

• Scale of order.
• Scale of relations.
• Scale of names.
• Scale of intervals.
• The scale of absolute values.

Scale of order

The places that the quantities occupy in such a scale are called ranks. The scale itself is also called rank or non-metric. In it, all the numbers are ordered according to their places. Intervals between them can not be accurately measured. This scale makes it possible not only to establish equality or inequality between the measured objects, but also to determine the nature of the inequality in the form of logical judgments such as "more and less", "worse and better".

Using the scale of order, you can measure indicators that are qualitative, but not strictly quantitative measures. Widespread use of such scales in psychology and pedagogy, as well as sociology.

Scale of relations

It differs from the interval scale by a strict determination of the position of the zero point. For this reason, it does not limit the mathematical apparatus used in processing the results.

What is a relationship scale? It measures the quantities formed as the difference of numbers, which are counted on the scale of intervals. Thus, the calendar time is counted on the interval, and the intervals of time - on the scale of relations.

With this type of measurement, any measurement is an experimental determination of the ratio of this very quantity to that of it, which is taken as unity. When measuring the length of an object, you can find out by how many times it is greater than the length of another object, which is taken as a unit of length, for example, a meter ruler. If only the ratio scales are used, then a more specific, narrow definition can be given to measurement: the measurement of any quantity is an experimentally finding out its relation to the corresponding unit.

Scale of titles

This scale is also called nominal. It is the simplest. The numbers in it play the role of labels. They are needed in order to detect and distinguish the objects under study. The numbers that make up this scale are allowed to be swapped. There are no "less-more" relationships in it. For this reason, some people think that its use should not be taken as a measurement. Using the name scale, only a small number of mathematical operations can be performed. For example, you can not subtract and add its numbers, but you can calculate how many times a certain number occurs.

Interval scale

This is a type in which the numbers are not simply orderly by rank, but are also separated by certain intervals. A zero point in this scale is chosen arbitrarily. This distinguishes it from the relationship scale. As examples, we can cite calendar time (in different calendars the beginning of the calculation of years was established for some random reasons), the potential of the electric field, the temperature, the potential energy of the lifted cargo.

The results obtained by measuring on this scale can be processed by any mathematical method, except for the determination of relations. The data shown by the scale answer the question "how much less or more?", But do not give the opportunity to affirmatively say that one of the values of the investigated quantity is somehow smaller or larger than the other. For example, if the temperature in the room has increased from 10 degrees to 20, it can not be said that now it is twice as warm.

Absolute scale

Often the magnitude of something is measured directly. For example, directly count the number of defects in products, the number of units of output, the number of students present at the lecture, how many years have passed, and so on. Making such measurements, on the scale, exact absolute quantitative values of what is measured are noted. The scale of absolute values has exactly the same properties as the scale of relations. The only difference is that the values indicated on the first are absolute, not relative.

The results obtained after the measurement on this scale are the most reliable and informative. They are very sensitive to inaccuracies in measurements.

Conclusion

Thus, it became clear what a measurement scale is and what it is used for. As it turned out, she is not alone. There are five of them, and each is used to measure certain quantities. If earlier it seemed that the scale should measure only physical quantities, then it turns out that in such sciences as psychology and sociology, there are also scales that measure numerical values. In fact, the psychological test is also such a scale.

The measured value is called a variable, but what is measured by the instrument. As a result, data or results are obtained that can be of different quality and refer to one of the scales. Each of them puts restrictions on the use of some kind of mathematical operations.