Psychological assessment instruments often employ an ordinal scale because
A) it can quantify categories such as ethnicity, sex, and medical diagnoses.
B) it contains equal intervals between numbers.
C) it has an absolute zero point.
D) it permits rank-ordering of scores.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Psychological assessment instruments often measure traits or behaviors that cannot be directly measured in physical units, such as intelligence or depression. Therefore, ordinal scales are often used because they allow the rank-ordering of scores, which can provide useful information about the relative standing of individuals on a particular trait or behavior. Ordinal scales do not have equal intervals between numbers or an absolute zero point, which makes them less useful for precise numerical comparisons or calculations.

Psychological Assessment Instruments Often Employ an Ordinal Scale Because