Tallskala

Tallskala is a term used in several Nordic languages to describe a numeric or number-based rating scale used to quantify a property, quality, or quantity. It assigns numeric values to items so that magnitude and differences can be compared across cases. In practice, tallskala appears in surveys, assessments, and quality control, and commonly takes forms such as 0–10, 1–5, or 0–100 percent.

Types and levels: Tallskala can be discrete, with a finite set of values, or continuous, allowing any value within a range to a stated precision. From a measurement perspective, scales relate to the four levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. A tallskala used for counting or with a true zero supports ratio, while many subjective ratings are treated as ordinal or interval for analysis.

Design and interpretation: When constructing a tallskala, endpoints and sometimes midpoints are labeled to clarify meaning (for example, 0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain). The scale range and the direction in which the numbers increase influence respondent interpretation and cross-study comparability.

Analysis and validity: Data from tallskala are analyzed with methods appropriate to its level. Ordinal scales often rely on medians and nonparametric tests, while interval and ratio data permit means and parametric tests. Reliability and validity depend on clear anchors, consistent instructions, appropriate labeling, and cultural equivalence.

Related concepts include numeric rating scales, Likert-type scales, and pain scales.