In the construction industry, scale levels vary depending on the data collected. Nominal scale classifies building materials and equipment names, such as concrete, steel, and wood, and their types. Ordinal scale categorizes the quality and performance of these materials, such as poor quality and high quality. Interval scale, which measures temperatures on the Fahrenheit or Celsius scale. Finally, the ratio scale measures quantities such as weight, length, and volume, of which zero is actual (Velleman & Wilkinson, 1993).
The Selected Paper:
Name: Evaluation of High-Temperature Behavior of Sacrificial Concrete in Nuclear Reactor Core Containment Structures (2017)
Authors: Ma, Zhiming; Jin, Zuquan; Zhao, Tiejun; Cao, Yuanchao.
Paper Description:
In this paper, the authors investigate the nature of sacrificial concrete, used to coat the metal surfaces of nuclear reactors, and its properties that can withstand high temperatures exceeding 3000 °C = 5432 °F. This type of concrete contains chemical additives that make it stronger, more durable, and more resistant to radioactive leakage throughout the nuclear reactor's life cycle (Zhiming, Zuquan, Tiejun & Yuanchao, 2017).
Type of Scale Used:
In this paper, three types of scale levels were used as follows:
Nominal scale: This scale was used to classify the types of sacrificial concrete used in nuclear reactors, which are of three categories: (high pressure bearing concrete - low radiation permeability concrete - hydrolysis resistant concrete).
Interval scale: The temperatures exposed to this concrete have been measured and expressed in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Ratio scale: Standard measurements such as thickness and volume of concrete around the nuclear reactor were used.
The Appropriate Choice:
Only three measurement scales were used to serve the research paper. The descriptive data were expressed in nominal scales, and the quantitative data were described in the interval and ratio scales. Although the research was designed primarily to answer the tolerance of sacrificial concrete to high temperatures and radioactive leakage, it should have used the three levels of measurement, each according to the data being searched. The authors neglected to use the ordinal scale because the sacrificial concrete has been classified according to the strength grades; for example, concrete has poor, exemplary, or excellent compressive strength. This is measured by nuclear equipment and has a ratio scale.
Conclusion
The four levels of measurement have an influential role in classifying research data. Some data are arranged according to their name or type and fall under the nominal level. Other data can be arranged according to their quality and strength and fall under the ordinal level. Another data type can be distinguished by equal values, such as temperatures, which fall under the interval scale. Finally, other quantitative data can be arranged according to their weight, length, and size, which fall under the ratio scale, where zero is absolute. Without it, the element itself does not exist (Corporate Finance Institute, 2020).
References
Corporate Finance Institute (2020). Level of Measurement. Retrieved from https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/level-of-measurement/
Velleman, P. F., & Wilkinson, L. (1993). Nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio typologies are misleading. The American Statistician, 47(1), 65-72.
Zhiming, M; Zuquan, J; Tiejun, Z & Yuanchao, C. (2017). Evaluation of High-Temperature Behavior of Sacrificial Concrete in Nuclear Reactor Core Containment Structures. https://www.proquest.com/pq1academic/docview/1973005587/fulltext/4FB639B4096240C2PQ/5?accountid=14376.