Measurement in the broadest sense is a process of assigning numbers to characteristics according to a defined rule. Not all measurement is the same. Measuring individuals' weight is not the same as measuring their opinions on some topic in terms of agreement or disagreement.
Consideration of the measurement scale is important when contemplating the use of statistics. The measurement scale of the DV is one of the more important factors in determining the appropriate statistical methods used to analyse the data of a particular research study.
Certain characteristics in the social/behaviour sciences are more amenable to precise measurement than others. For example, we can measure an individual's weight very precisely. On the other hand, it is more difficult to measure precisely the anxiety level of individual.
