Questions: A zoologist measures the birthweight of each cub in a litter of lions. What is the level of measurement of the data?
Select the correct answer below:
nominal
ordinal
interval
ratio
Transcript text: A zoologist measures the birthweight of each cub in a litter of lions. What is the level of measurement of the data?
Select the correct answer below:
nominal
ordinal
interval
ratio
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understanding the Levels of Measurement
In statistics, data can be classified into four levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Each level of measurement provides different types of information about the data:
Nominal: Data are categorized without a specific order. Examples include gender, race, or types of animals.
Ordinal: Data are categorized with a specific order, but the differences between categories are not meaningful. Examples include rankings or levels of satisfaction.
Interval: Data have meaningful differences between values, but there is no true zero point. Examples include temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Ratio: Data have meaningful differences and a true zero point, allowing for the calculation of ratios. Examples include weight, height, and age.
Step 2: Analyzing the Data Type
The question involves the birthweight of lion cubs. Birthweight is a quantitative measure that can be compared meaningfully. It has a true zero point (a weight of zero means no weight), and the differences between weights are meaningful. This makes it a ratio level of measurement.
Final Answer
The level of measurement of the data is \(\boxed{\text{ratio}}\).