The Meaning and Origin of the Measures Surname

Measures

The Measures surname is found 114 times in the US Census. This page explains the origin of this family name.

In mathematics, a measure is the countable additivity of a set. Examples include the Liouville and Gibbs measures on a symplectic manifold. Other non-negative extensive properties can be viewed as measures as well.

Definition

Measures are quantitative aspects of reality. They are the numbers and values that can be summed and averaged, such as sales, distances, durations and temperatures. In data contexts, measures are often contrasted with metrics, which refer to categorical buckets that can be used to filter or segment data, such as sales rep, city, product type and distribution channel.

A measurement is an empirical process of associating a number with the characterisation of an observable, especially by comparing it with a standard. It is an essential activity in almost all physical sciences, engineering and construction, and to most everyday activities. Its principles, limitations, conditions and error are studied in measurement theory.

A set in a measure space is said to have a finite measure if its real number displaystyle m is proportional to the probability measure on X displaystyle x. Nonzero finite measures are related to notions such as Banach limits and the Stone–Cech compactification. A measure in music is a subdivision of time that specifies the number and type of beats per bar line.

Purpose

Measures serve a variety of purposes. At the very basic level, they are a tool to help us compare things. In the workplace, measurements are used to ensure quality, monitor processes and efficiency, solve problems, make something fit (design, furniture assembly, etc), and ensure safety.

The measurement system that is most commonly used today is the International System of Units, which reduces all physical measurements to a mathematical combination of seven base units. This system is also called metrology, and it is the basis for most scientific measurement systems.

A good measurement is a reliable, repeatable way of determining how much something is. A bad one is inaccurate or inconsistent. The value of an outcome measure depends on how well it is suited for the particular clinical research question for which it is intended. A poorly chosen outcome measure may not add to our knowledge of an intervention and even distort it. The choice of a suitable measure should be an informed and thoughtful decision.

Methods

Measurement is the process through which physical parameters like length, weight, volume or force are converted into easily readable numeric values. There are different methods of measurement, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

A key consideration in selecting measurement methods is the level of data you want to collect (e.g., nominal, ordinal or interval). The level determines the types of reporting and statistical analysis that you can do with your data.

In the direct method of measurement, a measured value is directly compared with a standard quantity, like a reference device. Examples of this include using a physical balance to directly compare the weight of an unknown object with the known weight of a standard object.

In the indirect method of measurement, the value of a quantity is inferred from other measurable quantities linked with its definition. For example, a rotary indicator’s position reading is obtained from the comparison of two other measurable quantities.

Results

The results of the measure show that a majority of voters supported it, although the number was not enough to clear the required 60% supermajority for bond measures. The vote would have funded a new regional fire authority for Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Cosmopolis, but voters were concerned about the costs of increased taxes and fees.

The nominal level is the first and simplest, classifying variables into named groups without any quantitative meaning. It is often represented by numbers, but these do not have a numerical value.

Ordinal scales are more useful, dividing data into intervals and providing an exact value for each element. Examples include weight, height and distance.

Ratio scales combine data from the other three levels, and can be added, subtracted and divided. The scales can also be grouped to produce a composite measure. Measures can be categorized by their measurement domain, Meaningful Measures health care priority, data source, or CMS consensus-based entity submission types.

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