Scales in research refer to the measurement tools used to collect data in a study. There are different types of scales used in research, each serving a specific purpose: 1. Nominal Scale: This is the simplest form of measurement scale where data is categorized into distinct categories or groups. Examples include gender (male/female), race (white/black/Asian), and occupation (doctor/engineer/teacher). 2. Ordinal Scale: This scale ranks data in a specific order or sequence, but the intervals between the categories are not equal. Examples include educational levels (high school diploma, bachelor's degree, master's degree) and Likert scales (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree). 3. Interval Scale: This scale has equal intervals between the categories and does not have a true zero point. Examples include temperature (measured in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit) and IQ scores. 4. Ratio Scale: This scale is similar to the interval scale but has a true zero point, which allows for the calculation of ratios. Examples include weight, height, and age. 5. Likert Scale: This is a specific type of ordinal scale commonly used in surveys and questionnaires to measure the degree of agreement or disagreement with a statement. Participants are asked to rate their level of agreement on a scale typically ranging from 1 to 5 or 1 to 7. Overall, scales in research play a crucial role in collecting and analyzing data by providing a standardized way to measure and quantify variables. Researchers must carefully select the appropriate scale for their study based on the type of data being collected and the research questions being addressed.