Measures of Central

Tendency

Measures of Central
Tendencies
Numbers which, in some sense, give the central
or middle values of the data
locates the center of the distribution of a set of
data
the most typical value of a set of data
representative value of a given set of data

Mean
arithmetic mean /
average
the sum of the values divided
by the number of values
which were added.

Mean of ungrouped
data
x1 x2 x3 ... xn
x

Where x - sample mean

xi - ith observation/item in the sample
n - number of observations in the sample

Mean of ungrouped
data

Example 1: find the mean of the sample:

7, 11, 11, 8, 12, 7, 6, 6
x1 x2 x3 ... xn
x

7 11 11 8 12 7 6 6 68
x

8.5
8
8

The sample mean is 8.5

Mean of ungrouped
data

xample 2: find the mean of this sample:

18, 22, 25, 25, 26, 29, 45

Weighted Mean
Examples of uses of weighted mean are in
computing term GPA and in getting the mean
responses for a Likert-type of questions.
x1 (w1 ) x2 (w2 ) x3 (w3 ) ... xn (wn )
xw
w1 w2 w3 ... wn

Where xw - weighted mean

xi - ith observation/item in the sample
wi weight of the ith observation

Likert-type questions
It is used if the researcher wants to know the
feelings or opinions of the respondents
regarding any topic or issues of interest.

Likert-type questions
5
4
3
2
1

Choices are:
(SA) Strongly agree
(A) Agree
(N) Neutral
(D) Disagree
(SD) Strongly disagree

Check appropriate box

1

Student nurses serve as role models for

their patients and the public.

Student nurses should set a good example

by not smoking.

Patient's chances of quitting smoking are

increased if a student nurses advises
him or her to quit.

Smoking is harmful to your health.

Smoking other tobacco products is harmful

to a persons health.

Likert-type questions
Likert-Type Mean Interpretation
1.00 1.79 Strongly Disagree
1.80 2.59 Disagree
2.60 3.39 Neutral
3.40 4.19 Agree
4.20 5.00 Strongly Agree

11

10

4 16

5 17

Grand Mean

Interpretati
x
on
4.25Strongly Agree
4.40Strongly Agree

3.50

Agree

4.80Strongly Agree
4.85Strongly Agree
4.36Strongly Agree

4.25 4.40 3.50 4.80 4.85

4.36
5

Mean for Grouped Data

f X
x
n
Where f frequency of the class
X Class Mark
n sample size

Mean for Grouped Data

f X
x
n
Classes

12
22
23
33
34
44
45

Freq.
(f)
4
7
6
2
1

659

32.95
20

Class
Mark
(Xm)
17
28
39
50
61

fXm
68
196
234
100
61
659

Characteristics of the
Mean
1. It can be calculated for any set of numerical
data, so it always exist.

2. A set of numerical data has one and only one mean.

3. It is the most reliable since it takes into account
every item in the set of data.

4. It is greatly affected by extreme or deviant values.

Median
median of a data is defined to be the middle value.
[(n 1) / 2]th term
when n is odd

%
x
(n / 2)th term + [(n/2)+1]th term
when n is even

Thus, when n is odd, the median is the center

observation.
When n is even, it is the average of the two
center observations.
Note: it is important to arrange first the sample in
ascending order before getting the median.

Median

Example 3: find the median of the this sample:

7, 11, 11, 8, 12, 7, 6, 6
Solution:
Arrange the observations in ascending order.
6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 11, 11, 12
%
x
Since n = 8 (even), then

(n / 2)th term + [(n/2)+1]th term

2

n/2 = 8/2 = 4 and (n/2) + 1=(8/2)+1=5

Thus,
4th term + 5th term
%
x

7+8
x
7.5
2

The sample median is 7.5

Median

ample 4: find the median of this sample:

18, 22, 25, 25, 26, 29, 45

olution:
The solution is already arranged in ascending order.
Since n = 7 (odd), thenx% [(n 1) / 2]th term
(n + 1)/2 = (7 + 1)/2 = 4.
Thus,

% 4th term
x

= 25

The sample median is 25

Characteristics
1. The score or class in a distribution,
below which 50% of the score fall and
above which another 50% lie.
2. Not affected by extreme or
deviant values.
3. Appropriate to use when there are
extreme or deviant values.

Median

ration:
18, 22, 25, 25, 26, 29, 45

mpare the mean (example 2) and the median (exa

e above sample.
Mean = 27.1
Median = 25

ich is the better measure of central tendency in this

ple? Why?

Mode
1. It is used when we want to find the value
which occurs most often.

2. It is a quick approximation of the average.

3. It is an inspection average.
4. It is the most unreliable among the three
measures of central tendency because its
value is undefined in some observations.

Mode

Examples

2. The ages of 5 students are:

1. The following are the
No Mode
descriptive evaluation17, 18, 23, 20, & 19
of 5 teachers.
3. The grades of 5 students
Teacher
are: 4.0, 3.5, 4.0, 3.5, & 1.0
Evaluation
Mode: 4.0 & 3.5
A
4.
The
weight
of
5
persons
VS
in pounds are:
B
117, 218, 233, 120, & 117
S
Mode: 117
C
Mode: VS
VS
D

Comparison
Factor
Type of
data

Mean
Median
Mode
Quantitativ Quantitativ Quantitativ
e
e
e and
Qualitative
Yes
No
No

Extreme
score
problem
Always
Yes
measurabl
e
Number of
1
score
Characteris All scores
tics
included in

Yes

No

0,1,2

Middle
value

Popular
value