Question

identify the level of measurement of the data, and explain what is wrong with the given calculation. in a set of data, movie ratings are represented as 1 for 1 star, 2 for 2 stars, and 3 for 3 stars. the average (mean) of the 669 movie ratings is 1.3. the data are at the ratio level of measurement. what is wrong with the given calculation? a. the true average (mean) is 2.5. b. such data should not be used for calculations such as an average (mean). c. one must use a different method to compute the average (mean) of such data. d. there is nothing wrong with the given calculation.

Explanation:

Movie ratings (1, 2, 3 stars) are ordinal data (they have order but the differences between values aren't meaningful in a ratio or interval sense). Calculating a mean (treating them as ratio/interval) is incorrect because ordinal data shouldn't be used for such calculations (like mean) as the numerical values are just labels for order, not for precise measurement of differences. Option B states this. Option A is wrong as we can't assume the true mean is 2.5. Option C is wrong as it's not about the method but the appropriateness of using mean for ordinal data. Option D is wrong as there is an issue.

Answer:

B. Such data should not be used for calculations such as an average (mean).