Arbitrary Metrics Redux

Reducing the arbitrariness of a metric is distinct from the pursuit of validity, rational zero points, data transformations, standardization, and the types of statistical procedures one uses to analyze interval-level versus ordinal-level data. A variety of theoretical, methodological, and statistica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe American psychologist Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 62 - 71
Main Authors Blanton, Hart, Jaccard, James
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published American Psychological Association 01.01.2006
Subjects
Item Response Theory
Psychological Testing
Psychometrics
Research Methodology
Scaling
Standardization
Statistical Analysis
Validity
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Summary:Reducing the arbitrariness of a metric is distinct from the pursuit of validity, rational zero points, data transformations, standardization, and the types of statistical procedures one uses to analyze interval-level versus ordinal-level data. A variety of theoretical, methodological, and statistical tools can assist researchers who wish to make their metrics less arbitrary. These approaches can be combined with perspectives from classic test theory, item response theory, or other scaling models. The importance of considering arbitrary metrics for some applied areas of research is reemphasized.
ISSN:0003-066X
DOI:10.1037/0003-066X.61.1.62