Ordinal scales are a type of measurement used to rank items or individuals based on a specific attribute. They provide a clear order, indicating which items are greater or lesser in value, but do not specify the exact differences between them. For example, in a survey, responses like satisfied, neutral, and dissatisfied can be ranked, but the distance between these categories is not defined. These scales are commonly used in various fields, including psychology and market research, to assess preferences or levels of agreement. While ordinal scales offer valuable insights, they do not allow for mathematical operations like addition or averaging, limiting their analytical capabilities.