• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: On Measurement Scales: Neither Ordinal Nor Interval?
  • Contributor: Larroulet Philippi, Cristian
  • imprint: Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2021
  • Published in: Philosophy of Science
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1086/714873
  • ISSN: 0031-8248; 1539-767X
  • Keywords: History and Philosophy of Science ; Philosophy ; History
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: <jats:p>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.</jats:p>