There is a received view on measurement scales. It includes both a classification
of scales (nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio) and a set of prescriptions
regarding measurement inferences. This article casts doubt on the adequacy of
this received view. To do this, I propose an epistemic characterization of the
ordinal/interval distinction, that is, one in terms of researchers’
beliefs. This novel characterization reveals the ordinal/interval distinction as
too coarse grained and thus the received view as too restrictive of a framework
for measurement research.