Measurement
Is central to scientific investigations
Underlies major decisions that affect our lives
Involves translating empirical relationships between objects into numerical relationships
Notes:
- Most empirical research involves measurement of some kind – IQ tests, measures of job satisfaction
- Number of school districts use scores on aptitude tests to place children into programs for advanced learning or study
- Assign numbers to people (or objects) in such a way that numbers have meaning and convey information about differences between people (e.g., measured intelligence of 20 people using standardized IQ test, if two people equal intelligence, want to have identical scores (i.e., numbers) on our measure of intelligence. If one person smarter than another, want the former to have a higher score on our measure).
- Number of ways in which differences between people can be mapped onto a number system; hence, there are many different types (or levels) of measurement
