Ch. 16 Quiz question: Measures of association

The following levels of measurement uses which measure of association respectively: nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio?

A. Gamma, Sigma, Lambda
B. Gamma, Lambda, Pearson's r
C. Lambda, Gamma, Perason's r
D. Lambda, Gamma, Alpha
E. Alpha, Gamma, Sigma













Answer: C
For nominal variables, the lambda measure of association is used (however, it is not limited to lambda - lambda is only one of several measure of association that can be used to analyze two nominal variables) Lambda is based on your ability to guess the values of one variable through knowing the values of another variable. Values of lambda vary from 0 to 1.

For ordinal variables, gamma is one appropriate measure of association. Like lambda, gamma is based on our ability to guess values on one variable by knowing values on another. However, gamma is based on guessing the ordinal arrangement of values. Values of gamma vary from -1 to +1, representing the direction as well as the magnitude of the association (positive or negative correlation).

For interval and ratio variables, Pearson’s product-moment correlation (r) is one appropriate measure of association. Like both gamma and lambda, r is based on guessing the value of one variable by knowing another. However, more specifically, r reflects how closely you can guess the value of one variable through your knowledge of the value of another.

Sigma and alpha are made up and irrelevant in this case. They were not in the reading.