Verhältnisskalierte

Verhältnisskalen, often translated as ratio scales, represent the highest level of measurement in statistics. Data measured on a ratio scale possesses all the characteristics of interval data, meaning the intervals between values are equal and meaningful. Additionally, ratio scales have a true, meaningful zero point. This true zero indicates the complete absence of the quantity being measured. For example, height, weight, age, and income are all measured on ratio scales. A height of zero means no height, and a weight of zero means no weight. The presence of a true zero allows for meaningful ratio comparisons. One can say that 20 kilograms is twice as heavy as 10 kilograms. This is not possible with interval scales like temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, where a zero point does not represent the absence of temperature. Statistical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are all permissible with ratio scale data, making them highly versatile for analysis. Common statistical measures like mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and variance are applicable to ratio data.