Measures of Central Tendency

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 Central Tendency
Define
Mean
Median
Mode
Midrange
What is the effect of distribution shape on
measures of central tendency?
When might we prefer one measure of central
tendency to another?
Central Tendency refers to the
Middle of the Distribution
 Mean for Raw Data
The mean is the sum of measurements /
number of subjects

Formula: (X-bar) = Xi / n

Data :
0, 10, 20, 0, 20

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 Example for Mean
Formula: = Xi / n
= 50 /5
= 10

The mean for these test scores is 10

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 Median
Score that separates top 50% from bottom
50%
Even number of scores, median is half way
between two middle scores.
1 2 3 4 | 5 6 7 8 Median is 4.5
Odd number of scores, median is the middle
number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Median is 4
 Mode

Mode = can be used for any kind of data.

Formula: value that occurs most often or the
category or interval with highest frequency.

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 Example for Nominal Variables:

Religion frequency cf proportion % Cum%

Catholic 17 17 .41 41 41
Protestant 4 21 .10 10 51
Jewish 2 23 .05 5 56
Muslim 1 24 .02 2 58
Other 9 33 .22 9 80
None 8 41 .20 20 100

Total 41 1.00 100%

Central Tendency: MODE = largest category = Catholic

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 Mean for Aggregate (Grouped) Data

To calculate the mean for grouped data, you

need a frequency table that includes a column
for the midpoints, for the product of the
frequencies times the midpoints (f*Xm).

Formula: = (f*Xm)
n

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 Frequency table:
Score f Xm*

41-50 1 45.5
51-60 3 55.5
61-70 8 65.5
71-80 3 75.5
81-90 2 85.5
91-100 3 95.5
n = 20 (f*Xm) = 1420
* Find midpoints first

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 Calculating Mean for Grouped Data:

Formula: = (f*Xm)
n
= 1420 / 20
= 71

The mean for the grouped data is 71.

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 Properties of the Mean:
- Only for numerical data

- Can be affected by outliers = skewed distribution

- Tail becomes elongated and the mean is pulled in direction

of outlier.
Example
no outlier:
$30000, 30000, 35000, 25000, 30000 then mean = $30000
but if outlier is present, then:
$130000, 30000, 35000, 25000, 30000 then mean = $50000
(the mean is pulled up or down in the direction of the outlier)

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 NOTE:
When distribution is symmetric,
mean = median = mode
For skewed, mean will lie in direction of skew.
i.e. skewed to right (tail pulled to right)
mean > median (positive skew)
skewed to left (tail pulled to left)
median > mean (negative skew)

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 Midrange
A Measure of Central Tendency
Average of Smallest and Largest
Observation:
x l arg est x smallest
Midrange
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Affected by Extreme Value

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Midrange = 5 Midrange = 5
 The weighted mean of a set of numbers X1,
X2, ..., Xn, with corresponding weights w1,
w2, ...,wn, is computed from the following
formula:

Often each weight represents the number

of items in the data set having a particular
value.

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The Carter Construction Company pays its hourly employees $16.50,
$19.00, or $25.00 per hour. There are 26 hourly employees, 14 of
which are paid at the $16.50 rate, 10 at the $19.00 rate, and 2 at the
$25.00 rate. What is the mean hourly rate paid the 26 employees?

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Mean Mode Mean Mean
Mode
Median
Median Mode Median

Negatively Symmetric Positively

Skewed (Not Skewed) Skewed
 Example: Age Distribution
Distribution of Age
Central Tendency, Variability, and Shape
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Median = 23
Mean=25.73

Average Distrance from Mean

12 Mode = 21 SD = 6.47
Frequency

0
10 20 30 40 50

age
 NOTE:

N and Mu () denote population parameters

n, x-bar ( ) denote sample statistics

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 Remember the Rounding Rules!
Always use as many decimal places as your
calculator can handle.

Round your mean to one decimal place more

than the data and the SD one decimal more
than the mean.

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 Homework # 1
#1 p. 118
#14 p. 119

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