Measured data can be any numerical value including integers (-5, 1, 3, 0, etc.) and fractions expressed as decimals (1.3, -0.43, -3.14159, 2.71828, etc.). Measured data is assumed to reflect a measurement (height, width, length, distance, weight, count, ratio, etc.) of a feature. OptiPath will try to order the items (artifacts or assemblages) according to the measures of their features (to optimize unimodality or gradual rate of change of feature values) in creating a seriation.
Measured data can be specified in the Features table. The feature parameter Data can be used to specify that a feature should use measured data. Right clicking on the column brings up a popup menu that allows you to set all features with one click.
Measured data is usually associated with frequency seriation (where the data values represent the frequencies with which features appear for an artifact) and optimal path seriation (where values represent continuous or metric measurements of features).
Measured data is not appropriate for occurrence seriation or discrete seriation (where ranked data is more appropriate) nor for nominal seriation (where classed data is more appropriate).
Blanks in measured data are interpreted according to the Blanks feature parameter. Zeroes are interpreted according to the Zeroes feature parameter.
To see the effect on the raw data of setting various feature parameters, including the Data parameter, look at processed data in the Values table.