Is the selection of statistical methods governed by level of measurement?

Abstract

Discusses the idea that nonparametric methods are required as a replacement of parametric statistical methods when the scale of measurement in a research study does not achieve a certain level, in light of recent developments in representational measurement theory. An approach to examining the problem via computer simulation is introduced. Beliefs that have been widely held by psychologists for several decades were examined by means of a computer simulation study that mimicked measurement of an underlying empirical structure. There is no need to replace parametric statistical tests by nonparametric methods when the scale of measurement is ordinal and not interval. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)