177
From this point of view, we consider the emphasis on representation that has usually
accompanied NOIR to be misleading: the position that assignments are representations that do not represent anything (Michell’s “internal representations”) is void,
and the interesting question is instead whether NOIR is about
• ways of evaluating properties, or
• properties as such,
where in both cases the claim is that there is a property under consideration, having
structural features which do not depend on whether or how it is represented. While
Stevens, who was inclined towards operationalism, was candid about this alternative—“the type of scale achieved depends upon the character of the basic empirical
operations performed” (Stevens, 1946: p. 677)—and consistently considered NOIR
a feature of scales, we still have to further explore regarding this subject.
6.5.2 From values of quantities to values of properties
We have assumed so far that the concept applies not only to quantities
but also, and more generally, to properties. This has been the justification for adopting the same structure for the Basic Evaluation Equation for both quantitative
cases, e.g.,
length rod a
[
]= 1 2345
.
m
and
reading comprehension ability individual b
logits on a sp
[
]= 1 23
.
e ecific RCA scale
(
)
and nonquantitative cases, e.g.,
blood type individual c A in the ABOsystem
[
]=
Hence in the generic structure
property of an object value of a property
=
A in the ABO system is an example of a value of a property, just as 1.2345 m is an
example of a value of a quantity. While it is acknowledged (for example by the
VIM) that quantities are specific types of properties, whether values of quantities
can be generalized and thus applied to nonquantitative properties is a much less
considered subject, as is the related issue of what a value of a property is. For
6.5 Generalizing the framework to nonquantitative properties
From this point of view, we consider the emphasis on representation that has usually
accompanied NOIR to be misleading: the position that assignments are representations that do not represent anything (Michell’s “internal representations”) is void,
and the interesting question is instead whether NOIR is about
• ways of evaluating properties, or
• properties as such,
where in both cases the claim is that there is a property under consideration, having
structural features which do not depend on whether or how it is represented. While
Stevens, who was inclined towards operationalism, was candid about this alternative—“the type of scale achieved depends upon the character of the basic empirical
operations performed” (Stevens, 1946: p. 677)—and consistently considered NOIR
a feature of scales, we still have to further explore regarding this subject.
6.5.2 From values of quantities to values of properties
We have assumed so far that the concept
but also, and more generally, to properties. This has been the justification for adopting the same structure for the Basic Evaluation Equation for both quantitative
cases, e.g.,
length rod a
[
]= 1 2345
.
m
and
reading comprehension ability individual b
logits on a sp
[
]= 1 23
.
e ecific RCA scale
(
)
and nonquantitative cases, e.g.,
blood type individual c A in the ABOsystem
[
]=
Hence in the generic structure
property of an object value of a property
=
A in the ABO system is an example of a value of a property, just as 1.2345 m is an
example of a value of a quantity. While it is acknowledged (for example by the
VIM) that quantities are specific types of properties, whether values of quantities
can be generalized and thus applied to nonquantitative properties is a much less
considered subject, as is the related issue of what a value of a property is. For
6.5 Generalizing the framework to nonquantitative properties