The conceptual link between measurements, evaluations, preferences and indicators, according to the representational theory

This paper presents a classification of the different ways by which observable or non-directly observable properties of an object or an event can be judged/described. The reference framework is the representational theory. The definition of measurement as an empirical and objective operation is the starting point. The concept of representational measurement is compared with those of evaluation, preference and indicator. Evaluation maintains the empiricity but not the objectivity of measurement: there is no unanimously acknowledged reference for the description of latent constructs. Preference is neither empirical nor objective: every subject has his/her own relation to express the judgment and this relation is not exogenously known. This article shows how all these operations can be considered as separate subsets of the concept of indicator. In the end a further operation, the dictation, is introduced. According to this scheme of classification, dictation is objective but not empirical. Finally, we trace possible research paths to be undertaken for further analysis on the argument.