Stanley Smith Stevens

Stanley Smith Stevens was a psychologist known for his work in measurement theory, particularly in the classification of scales of measurement. He proposed four primary types: nominal (categorical), ordinal (ranked), interval (equal distances between values, but no true zero), and ratio (like interval but with a true zero point). Stevens’ classification helps researchers understand the nature of their data and choose appropriate statistical methods for analysis. His work has significantly influenced fields like psychology, education, and social sciences by providing a framework for how to measure and interpret various phenomena accurately.