Package smile.data.measure

Class OrdinalScale

java.lang.Object
smile.data.measure.CategoricalMeasure
smile.data.measure.OrdinalScale
All Implemented Interfaces:
Serializable, Measure
public class OrdinalScale extends CategoricalMeasure
The ordinal type allows for rank order (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) by which data can be sorted, but still does not allow for relative degree of difference between them. The psychological measurement, such as measurement of opinions, usually operates on ordinal scales. For example, 'completely agree', 'mostly agree', 'mostly disagree', 'completely disagree' when measuring opinion.

The median, i.e. middle-ranked, item is allowed as the measure of central tendency. But means and standard deviations have no validity. In particular, IQ scores reflect an ordinal scale, in which all scores are meaningful for comparison only. There is no absolute zero, and a 10-point difference may carry different meanings at different points of the scale.

See Also:

  • Constructor Details

    • OrdinalScale

      public OrdinalScale(String... levels)
      Constructor.
      Parameters:
      levels - the levels of ordinal values.

    • OrdinalScale

      public OrdinalScale(int[] values, String[] levels)
      Constructor.
      Parameters:
      values - the valid values.
      levels - the levels of discrete values.

    • OrdinalScale

      public OrdinalScale(List<String> levels)
      Constructor.
      Parameters:
      levels - the levels of discrete values.

    • OrdinalScale

      public OrdinalScale(Class<? extends Enum<?>> clazz)
      Constructor.
      Parameters:
      clazz - an Enum class.

  • Method Details