Which among the following types of variables can NOT be rank ordered?

CONCEPT

A measurement scale determines what comparisons and numerical operations are meaningful for recorded values. The four common levels are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio; each higher level adds structure to the preceding one.

APPLICATION

Ranking requires an inherent order among values. Nominal data use labels only to distinguish categories, so their categories have no built-in direction or sequence.

CONTRAST

• Nominal: distinguishes categories; only same/different comparisons are intrinsic.

• Ordinal: records relative position, although gaps between positions are not fixed.

• Interval: has ordered values and equal units, but its zero point is conventional.

• Ratio: has ordered equal units and a meaningful absolute zero, so ratios are interpretable.

Therefore, the variable type that cannot be rank ordered is Nominal.