Which of the following best describes the level of measurement of the earthquake depths described in Exercise 3: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio?

Exercise 3

In a test of the Atkins weight loss program, 40 subjects using that program had a mean weight loss of 2.1 kg (or 4.6 pounds) after one year (based on data from “Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone Diets for Weight Loss and Heart Disease Risk Reduction,” by Dansinger et al., Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 293, No. 1). Using formal methods of statistical analysis, we can conclude that the mean weight loss of 2.1 kg is statistically significant. That is, based on statistical criteria, the diet appears to be effective. However, using common sense, it does not seem very worthwhile to pursue a weight loss program resulting in such relatively insignificant results. Someone starting a weight loss program would probably want to lose considerably more than 2.1 kg. Although the mean weight loss of 2.1 kg is statistically significant, it does not have practical significance. The statistical analysis suggests that the weight loss program is effective, but practical considerations suggest that the program is basically ineffective.