Table of contents
- 1. Intro to Stats and Collecting Data55m
- 2. Describing Data with Tables and Graphs1h 55m
- 3. Describing Data Numerically1h 45m
- 4. Probability2h 16m
- 5. Binomial Distribution & Discrete Random Variables2h 33m
- 6. Normal Distribution and Continuous Random Variables1h 38m
- 7. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Mean1h 3m
- 8. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Proportion1h 12m
- 9. Hypothesis Testing for One Sample1h 1m
- 10. Hypothesis Testing for Two Samples2h 8m
- 11. Correlation48m
- 12. Regression1h 4m
- 13. Chi-Square Tests & Goodness of Fit1h 20m
- 14. ANOVA1h 0m
1. Intro to Stats and Collecting Data
Intro to Stats
Problem 1.2.24
Textbook Question
In Exercises 21–28, determine which of the four levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) best describes the given data.
Criminology In a criminology study, the lengths of prison sentences are obtained for randomly selected subjects convicted of auto theft.

1
Understand the four levels of measurement: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio. Nominal involves categories without a specific order, Ordinal involves categories with a specific order, Interval involves ordered categories with equal intervals but no true zero, and Ratio involves ordered categories with equal intervals and a true zero.
Identify the type of data you have. In this case, the data consists of the lengths of prison sentences.
Consider whether the data has a true zero point. Since a prison sentence can be zero (indicating no time served), this suggests the presence of a true zero.
Determine if the data can be ordered and if the differences between data points are meaningful. Prison sentences can be ordered (e.g., 1 year, 2 years) and the differences between them are meaningful (e.g., the difference between 1 year and 2 years is the same as between 2 years and 3 years).
Conclude that the data is best described by the ratio level of measurement, as it has a true zero, can be ordered, and the differences between values are meaningful.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Levels of Measurement
The levels of measurement refer to the different ways data can be categorized and quantified. They include nominal (categorical data without order), ordinal (categorical data with a defined order), interval (numerical data without a true zero), and ratio (numerical data with a true zero). Understanding these levels is crucial for selecting appropriate statistical methods and interpreting data correctly.
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Nominal and Ordinal Data
Nominal data represents categories without any inherent order, such as types of crimes, while ordinal data involves categories with a meaningful sequence, like rankings. In the context of prison sentences, these types are less relevant since we are dealing with numerical values rather than categories. However, recognizing these distinctions helps in understanding how to classify different types of data.
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Interval and Ratio Data
Interval data is numerical and has equal intervals between values but lacks a true zero point, such as temperature in Celsius. Ratio data, on the other hand, is also numerical but includes a true zero, allowing for meaningful comparisons of magnitude, such as lengths of prison sentences. Since prison sentences can be zero (no sentence) and have meaningful ratios, they are classified as ratio data.
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