"Threaded Problem: Tornado The data set “Tornadoes_2017” located at www.pearsonhighered.com/ sullivanstats contains a variety of variables that were measured for all tornadoes in the United States in 2017. For each of the following variables in the data set, indicate the level of measurement of each variable.


State"

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of levels of measurement, which classify variables based on the nature of the data. The four common levels are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.
2. Identify the variable in question, which is 'State' in this case. This variable represents the name or abbreviation of U.S. states where tornadoes occurred.
3. Determine if 'State' has categories without any inherent order. Since states are names and do not have a natural ranking or order, this variable is categorical without order.
4. Conclude that 'State' is a nominal level of measurement because it categorizes data without any quantitative value or order.
5. Remember that nominal variables are used for labeling or naming categories, and no mathematical operations like addition or subtraction are meaningful for them.

Key Concepts

Levels of Measurement

Levels of measurement classify data based on their nature and the mathematical operations that can be performed. The four main levels are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Understanding these levels helps determine appropriate statistical analyses and how to interpret data.

Nominal Level of Measurement

Nominal data represent categories without any inherent order, such as states or colors. These categories are mutually exclusive and exhaustive but cannot be ranked or measured numerically. For example, the variable 'State' is nominal because it names categories without order.

Data Variables in a Dataset

Variables in a dataset represent different characteristics or attributes measured for each observation. Identifying the type and level of each variable is essential for selecting correct statistical methods and accurately interpreting results.