UGCNET Questions

Ratio scales possess all properties of interval scales plus a true zero point, allowing meaningful statements about ratios. Time taken to complete a test has an absolute zero and permits comparisons such as one student taking twice as long as another.

Option A:
This option describes a nominal variable, where categories represent different types without inherent order or equal intervals. Hostel and rented house are labels, not quantities.

Option B:
This option refers to ordinal data, where ranks indicate order but not equal differences between positions; you cannot say that the difference between rank 1 and 2 equals that between 2 and 3.

Option C:
Option C describes temperature in degrees Celsius, which is usually treated as an interval scale: differences are meaningful, but zero does not represent the complete absence of temperature and ratios (40°C is not “twice as hot” as 20°C) are not meaningful.

Option D:
Option D is correct because time in minutes has a true zero and equal units, so both differences and ratios are meaningful, satisfying the definition of a ratio scale.

A continuous variable can take on any value within a given range and be subdivided into finer units. Weight is continuous because it can, in principle, be recorded with decimal precision such as 55.2 or 55.23 kilograms, making it suitable for many statistical techniques that assume continuity.

Option A:
This option refers to the number of students, which is a discrete variable because it can only take whole number values; you cannot have 30.5 students.

Option B:
This option correctly identifies weight measured on a metric scale as continuous; it can vary in very small increments and be represented by real numbers.

Option C:
This option describes type of school management, which is a categorical (nominal) variable rather than a continuous one.

Option D:
This option refers to gender categories such as male or female, which are also nominal and not continuous numerical measures.