A quest for the definition of measurement

Since in the scientific and technical literature multiple, sometimes incompatible, definitions of 'measurement' can be found, identifying a single conceptual framework is a significant target for measurement science, towards a generalized concept of measurement, in compliance with the notion of widely-defined measurement proposed by Ludwik Finkelstein. This paper introduces the subject with a structured review of some paradigmatic positions and then proposes to characterize measurement as an evaluation process able to produce objective and inter-subjective information on the measurand. A justification is given that this standpoint encompasses the evaluation of both physical and non-physical properties. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.