The process of ascertaining the attributes,
dimensions, extent, quantity, degree or capacity of some object of observation and representing these in the qualitative or quantitative terms of a
data language. Any empirical pursuit that places the observer outside his object of observation must consider measurement the fundamental process through which scientific constructs or
models are linked to reality (
see index, symptom ). Otherwise measurement is only one section in a circular process of
computing a stable form. The traditional levels of measurement are nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio scales. (
Krippendorff )
