What is an absolute scale? Definition and example

In a quantitative survey, researchers must first consider which scale level they want to use when collecting data before data collection. This decision is of great importance for the entire study. The scale level also determines which mathematical operations are permitted with the collected data. If the collected data have defined units of measurement, such as the population of a country, these can be collected using an absolute scale.

General definition of absolute scale

The absolute scale (Engl. "absolute scale") is a subcategory of the ratio scale and therefore has the same properties. On the absolute scale, equal intervals between two answer options as well as a natural zero point (= no negative numbers possible) are also required.

Additionally, the intervals of the absolute scale are determined by a natural unit. While researchers can decide on a ratio scale in which units (e.g., in kilograms, grams, or pounds) they want to measure a person's body weight, with the absolute scale only a single defined unit is possible.

Absolutely scaled characteristics include, for example, the population of a region. A unit is naturally predetermined and can only be 1 person (= "1 piece") – and nothing else! Most absolutely scaled characteristics can be recognized by the fact that they are measured in the form of "number of" or "per piece". In other words: If it can be asked of a characteristic how many pieces of it there are, the answer is typically an absolutely scaled variable.

 

 

Typical use of absolute scale

The significance of the absolute scale in empirical research is rather limited because its functions and possible mathematical operations are identical to the ratio scale. In many scientific works, it is often not even recognized as an independent scale level. When collecting absolutely scaled data, the same rules therefore apply in principle as on the ratio scale – with the exception that the unit of measurement may not be freely chosen.

1. Example 1: Which semester of your Bachelor's degree are you currently in? (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
2. Example 2: How many chocolate bars do you eat at once when you open a standard package with 10 bars? (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)