MODELS AND MEASUREMENT

Abstract

The subfield of history and philosophy of measurement has seen a revival of scholarly interest over the last two decades. Much of this recent scholarship is driven by the recognition that models play important roles in measurement. This chapter surveys three uses of models in measurement: (i) the use of models in mathematical logic to study the properties of measurement scales; (ii) the analysis of measurement data using statistical models; and (iii) the use of theoretical models of the measurement process to predict the behaviors of measuring instruments. The centrality of models to measurement has given rise to the idea that measurement itself can be characterized as a model-based activity. This chapter concludes by outlining the model-based account of measurement and using it to clarify key measurement concepts, including accuracy, calibration, and objectivity.