Application of Measurement and Scaling Concepts Term Paper

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Scaling

Application of Measurement and Scaling Concepts

This work aims to discuss the role of scales in research and research design. Measurements that incorporate scale data are often incorporated into learners' quantitative research projects and dissertations. For that reason, it is critical to understand just what scaling is and how it can best be utilized in these types of projects. Scaling is based on specific rules and assigns objects to numbers. This is an excellent way to measure abstract objects to one another. "Scaling is the branch of measurement that involves the construction of a measure based on associating qualitative judgments about a construct with quantitative metric units. Like an index, a scale is typically designed to yield a single numerical score that represents the construct of interest." (Trochim 2008, p 129). Scales are based on two distinct categories, unidimensional and multidimensional.

These two categories entail that scales can have any number of dimensions, but most scales that are developed more than likely limit the dimensions. A simple way of thinking about what a dimension is can be obtained by seeing each dimension as a number line. Measuring constructs then would mean that the designer would need to know in advance if a construct would be measured by one of these number lines or if it would require more than one. A good example would be how height is measured in a single or unidimensional manner.

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But hunger may be multidimensional because a person can be more or less hungry at any given time of day. A better example of a two-dimensional idea could be how human score intelligence on more than one criteria. The SAT's for example measure both math and verbal skills. To compare with other students, it requires both a math and verbal score (i.e. x & y) to plot the person on a scale with others. Scales could have many factors so in these two examples on a single and two dimensional scales are considered, but multi-implies just that. There is no limit to the number of dimensions possible.

Scaling serves several purposes. Instead of creating some scale of text statements….....

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"Application Of Measurement And Scaling Concepts" (2009, December 23) Retrieved May 19, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/application-measurement-scaling-concepts-16046

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"Application Of Measurement And Scaling Concepts" 23 December 2009. Web.19 May. 2025. <
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"Application Of Measurement And Scaling Concepts", 23 December 2009, Accessed.19 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/application-measurement-scaling-concepts-16046