Research Methodology in the Human Sciences

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the ambiguities in measurement scales and to resolve them by utilizing the properties and laws of mathematical sciences. The research method is fundamental with a pure approach, and data have been collected by referencing reputable domestic and international sources. Despite their numerous advantages, the existing measurement scales present challenges from the perspective of humanities researchers, the most significant of which pertains to the ordinal scale. The results indicate that the ordinal scale has a qualitative nature, and only discrete numbers are applicable within it. In this scale, the mean is not definable, and thus, it cannot be upgraded to an interval scale. The improper use of the mean in an ordinal scale leads to errors in the calculation of standard deviation, analysis of variance, selection of statistical tests, the assumption of a balanced distribution, and other related analyses. Consequently, the statistical validity of the research is called into question. Another finding of the research is that nominal, interval, and ratio scales possess the property of mathematical equivalence, whereas the ordinal scale lacks this characteristic. Finally, a set of arguments and perspectives are presented to resolve the aforementioned ambiguities.