Measurement theory is the cornerstone of science, but no equivalent theory underpins the huge volumes of non-numerical data now being generated. In this study, we show that replacing numbers with alternative mathematical models, such as strings and graphs, generalises traditional measurement to provide rigorous, formal systems (`observement') for recording and interpreting non-numerical data. Moreover, we show that these representations are already widely used and identify general classes of interpretive methodologies implicit in representations based on character strings and graphs (networks). This implies that a generalised concept of measurement has the potential to reveal new insights as well as deep connections between different fields of research.

中文翻译：

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观测为通用测量

测量理论是科学的基石，但是没有等效理论支撑现在正在生成的大量非数值数据。在这项研究中，我们表明用替代的数学模型（例如字符串和图形）代替数字可以使传统的度量方法更加通用，从而为记录和解释非数值数据提供严格的正式系统（“观测”）。此外，我们证明了这些表示形式已经被广泛使用，并且可以识别基于字符串和图形（网络）的表示形式中隐含的解释方法的一般类别。这意味着广义的测量概念有可能揭示新的见解以及不同研究领域之间的深层联系。