Understanding of Scales of Measurements and its Consideration in Clinical Research

Abstract

In the present digital world, regardless of scale of measurements, often collected data are likely to be inappropriately considered as numeric. It might be mainly because even data on qualitative cum categorical variables are collected using certain numeric codes which look like quantitative instead of qualitative variables. Such inappropriate understanding about scales of measurements often leads to consideration of inappropriate analytical methods providing inaccurate results. Hence, such practice results to not only inaccurate interpretations but sometimes disastrous implications. Therefore, understandings of scales of measurements go in a long way to appropriately plan & execute study; collect accurate data, analyze appropriately, interpret results accurately and derive policy driven implications.