Which scale of measurement has categories with meaningful differences between values?

The interval scale of measurement is characterized by having categories with meaningful differences between values. This means that while you can indeed identify the order of the data points, the primary distinction is that the differences between these points are consistent and quantifiable. For example, in an interval scale, the difference between a temperature of 30 degrees and 40 degrees is the same as the difference between 70 degrees and 80 degrees.

However, one crucial aspect of interval scales is that they do not have a true zero point, which can limit certain mathematical operations compared to ratio scales but does not compromise the meaningfulness of the differences between values. This quality of having measurable and meaningful differences while maintaining order and consistency makes the interval scale particularly useful in fields that require precise quantitative analysis.

In contrast, nominal scales categorize data without any order, ordinal scales provide rank-ordered categories but don’t guarantee meaningful intervals between ranks, and ratio scales possess all the properties of interval scales plus a meaningful zero point, allowing for a full range of mathematical operations.