To determine the most appropriate scale of measurement for the given variables, we need to understand the difference between nominal and ordinal scales.
1. Political Party Affiliation (Democrat, Republican, Unaffiliated): This variable is best represented by a nominal scale. Nominal scales are used for labeling and categorizing data without any quantitative value or order. In this case, the political party affiliations are categories with no inherent ranking among them.
2. Highest Degree Obtained (None, High School, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate): For this variable, an ordinal scale is most appropriate. Ordinal scales not only categorize data but also provide a ranking or order. Here, the degrees can be ordered from none to doctorate, indicating an educational progression.
In summary, the political party affiliation uses a nominal scale because it involves categories without rank, while the highest degree obtained uses an ordinal scale, as it has a clear sequence of values that can be ranked.