On measurement scales: Neither ordinal nor interval?

Abstract

There is a received view on measurement scales. It includes both a classification of scales (nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio) and a set of prescriptions regarding measurement inferences. This article casts doubt on the adequacy of this received view. To do this, I propose an epistemic characterization of the ordinal/interval distinction, that is, one in terms of researchers’ beliefs. This novel characterization reveals the ordinal/ interval distinction as too coarse grained and thus the received view as too restrictive of a framework for measurement research.