The Definition
Ratio scale is a type of variable measurement scale which is quantitative in nature. It allows any researcher to compare the intervals or differences. Ratio scale is the 4th level of measurement and possesses a zero point or character of origin. This is a unique feature of this scale. For example, the temperature outside is 0-degree Celsius. 0 degree doesn’t mean it’s not hot or cold, it is a value.
Following example of ratio level of measurement to help understand the scale better.
Please select which age bracket do you fall in?
- Below 20 years
- 21-30 years
- 31-40 years
- 41-50 years
- 50 years and above
Ratio scale has most of the characteristics of the other three variable measurement scale i.e nominal, ordinal and interval. Nominal variables are used to “name,” or label a series of values. Ordinal scales provide a sufficiently good amount of information about the order of choices, such as one would be able to understand from using a customer satisfaction survey. Interval scales give us the order of values and also about the ability to quantify the difference between each one. Ratio scale helps to understand the ultimate-order, interval, values, and the true zero characteristic is an essential factor in calculating ratios.
LEARN ABOUT: System Usability Scale
A ratio scale is the most informative scale as it tends to tell about the order and number of the object between the values of the scale. The most common examples of this scale are height, money, age, weight etc. With respect to market research, the common examples that are observed are sales, price, number of customers, market share etc.
Learn more: Ratio Data- Definition, Characteristics, and Example
Characteristics of Ratio Scale
- Ratio scale, as mentioned earlier has an absolute zero characteristic. It has orders and equally distanced value between units. The zero point characteristic makes it relevant or meaningful to say, “one object has twice the length of the other” or “is twice as long.”
- Ratio scale doesn’t have a negative number, unlike interval scale because of the absolute zero or zero point characteristic. To measure any object on a this scale, researchers must first see if the object meets all the criteria for interval scale plus has an absolute zero characteristic.
- Ratio scale provides unique possibilities for statistical analysis plan. In this scale, variables can be systematically added, subtracted, multiplied and divided (ratio). All statistical analysis including mean, mode, the median can be calculated using it. Also, chi-square can be calculated on this scale variable.
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- Ratio scale has units which have several unique and useful properties. One of them is they allow unit conversion. Take an example of calculation of energy flow. Several units of energy occur like Joules, gram-calories, kilogram-calories, British thermal units. Still more units of energy per unit time (power) exist kilocalories per day, liters of oxygen per hour, ergs, and Watts.
LEARN ABOUT: Graphic Rating Scale
Scale Examples
The following are the most commonly used examples:
1. What is your height in feet and inches?
- Less than 5 feet.
- 5 feet 1 inch – 5 feet 5 inches
- 5 feet 6 inches- 6 feet
- More than 6 feet
2. What is your weight in kgs?
- Less than 50 kgs
- 51- 70 kgs
- 71- 90 kgs
- 91-110 kgs
- More than 110 kgs
3. How much time do you spend daily watching television?
- Less than 2 hours
- 3-4 hours
- 4-5 hours
- 5-6 hours
- More than 6 hours
Let us take the example of speed to understand this scale better.
Physics defines speed as speed is the distance traveled per unit time. Here the unit for time can be kept constant and a unit for distance traveled can vary, for example, can be in kilometers or miles which means 20 km/hour is equivalent to 12.43 mph.
If you have seen cars in Canada, the speedometer in the car has both miles and km on it.
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Advantages of Ratio Scale
- A ratio scale has a point zero characteristic, where the value of the variable has no value at all. Weight, height etc can be calculated on it because they have a real zero value. However, the temperature cannot be measured on this scale because zero degree celsius doesn’t mean there is no cold or heat for that matter. But most of the scientific variables can be measured on this scale.
- Point zero is an essential characteristic to measure a ratio between any two variables because in the absence of zero there is no ratio. So without a zero would it make any sense to say, “Tom is driving at a speed of 100 km/hour, which is double the speed at which Thelma is driving, which is 50 Km/hr?”
- This scale is used to calculate all the scientific variables. In fact, in the absence of a ratio scale, scientific variables cannot be measured.
LEARN ABOUT: Average Order Value
Read more about different variable measurement scales:
