To determine the appropriate level of measurement for the width of fabric samples, we need to understand the characteristics of the four levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Let's analyze each option:
a. Nominal level:
- The nominal level of measurement is the simplest level. It categorizes data without any order or structure. Examples include gender, religion, or nationality.
- Since the width of fabric samples involves quantitative measurements, it does not fit into this category.
b. Ordinal level:
- The ordinal level of measurement organizes data into categories that have a meaningful order, but the intervals between the categories are not necessarily equal or meaningful. Examples include rankings or ratings.
- Although the width of fabric samples could be ordered, the measurements are more informative than simple rankings, allowing for meaningful comparisons of differences.
c. Interval level:
- The interval level of measurement involves ordered categories that have meaningful intervals between them, but there is no true zero point. Examples include temperature scales like Celsius or Fahrenheit.
- While interval measurements have meaningful differences between values, the lack of a true zero point (where zero represents the absence of the measurement) disqualifies it for fabric width measurements.
d. Ratio level:
- The ratio level of measurement possesses all the characteristics of the interval level, but it also has a true zero point, meaning zero indicates the absence of the measured attribute. Examples include height, weight, and, relevantly, width.
- The width of fabric samples has a true zero point (zero width means no fabric width), and the differences between measurements are meaningful. Additionally, you can make statements about how one value is a multiple of another (e.g., a fabric sample that is 10 inches wide is twice as wide as one that is 5 inches).
Given the characteristics of these measurement levels, the width of fabric samples fits the ratio level of measurement because it has a true zero point and allows for meaningful comparisons of differences and ratios.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
d. Ratio level
