CHAPTER 6

BIOSTATISTIC
Measure and Variation

INTRODUCTION:
Events of Nature vary from time to time. People
keep thinking of changing their location, motion,
physical appearance, skin reaction to different
chemicals, height, weight, hair color, eye color,
ideas and even values in life.

RANGE
The RANGE is the simplest form of measuring the
variation of the distribution. To get the range,
subtract the lowest score or observation from the
highest score.
R = Highest Observation Lowest Observation

EXAMPLE:
A group of scientist went on an expedition to the mountain
range in the Sierra Madre, Philippines to study the different
species of plants existing in the area. The ages of the scientist
are 34,35,45,56,32,25 and 40. What is the range of their ages?
Solution:
Highest Age = 56
Lowest Age = 25
R= Highest to Lowest
= 56-25
= 31
Therefore, the range of the ages is 31.

MEAN ABSOLUTE DEVIATION

To find the Mean Absolute Deviation, subtract the mean
score from each raw score, then, using the absolute values
of the differences, get the sum of the results. The sum is
called the Sum of Deviations from the mean. Next divide
this sum by N, the total number of cases. In symbol ,
MAD = |x-| (for ungroup data)
N
Where MAD = means absolute deviation
x = raw score
= means score
N = number of observation

MAD = |x-|
N

(for grouped data)

where MAD = means abolute Deviation

= frequency
x = class mark
= mean score
N = number of observation

EXAMPLE 2:
Take the MAD of the ages of the scientist in
example 1.
Solution:
The ages are 34,35,45,56,32,25 and 40.
Mean Age: = 34+35+45+56+32+25+40= 38.14
7

x-

|x-|

34

-4.14

4.14

35

-3.14

3.14

45

6.86

6.86

56

17.86

17.86

32

-6.14

6.14

25

-13.14

13.14

40

1.86

1.86
Total: 53.14

MAD = 53.14 = 7.59

7
Therefore, the mean absolute is 7.59

VARIANCE
Variance is another measure of variation which
can be used instead of the range. The variance
consider the deviation of each observation from
the mean. To obtain the variance of the
distribution, first, square the deviation from the
mean of each raw score and add them together.
Then, divide the resulting sum by N or the total
number of cases.

a.) Population Variance of Ungrouped Data:

= (x-)2
N
Where = population variance
x = raw score
= population mean
N = number of observation

b.) Sample Variance of Ungrouped Data

S2 = (x-)2
N
Where S2 = sample variance
x = raw score
= sample mean
N = number of observation

Solution:
= 267 = 38.14
7
x

|x-|

(x-)2

34

4.14

17.14

35

3.14

9.86

45

6.86

47.06

56

17.56

318.98

32

6.14

37.70

25

13.14

172.66

40

1.86

3.46

Total: 267

53.14

606.86

STANDARD DEVIATION
The Standard Deviation, for population or s for a
sample, is the square root of the valve of the
variance. In symbols,
a.) Population Standard Deviation ()
= 2N
b.) Sample Standard Deviation (s)
s = s2N-1

Class Interval

fx

fx2

27-29

12

28

336

9,408

30-32

23

31

713

22,103

33-35

60

34

2,040

69,360

36-38

45

37

1,665

61,605

39-49

51

40

2,040

81,600

42-44

75

43

3,225

138,675

45-47

28

46

1,288

59,248

COEFFICIENT OF VARIATION
When it is necessary to compare the variability of
two or more groups, the task is easy if the means
are the same. For example, you can easily
compare which group is more varied in height
between the following groups:
Group 1: mean = 156cm, standard deviation = 6
Group 2: mean = 156cm, standard deviation = 10

Clearly, one can say that Group 2 is more varied because

it has higher standard deviation. The tas becomes more
difficult if the means are not equal and the units are
different, such as when comparing the weights of two
groups belonging to different age brackets or different
genders. To compare the variability of the weight of 9
girls, having a mean weight of 100 pounds and a
standard deviation of 5 with that of the weights of 12
boys having a mean weight of 160 pounds and standard
deviation of 8, a statistic called Coefficient of Variation
could help you. The formula is given by:
CV = s x 100%

Where s = standard deviation

= mean

Example:
Suppose two group of students are to be compared
in terms of height.
Group

Mean Height

Standard Deviation

Male

162 cm

10 cm

6.17%

Female

148 cm

4 cm

2.70%

Solution:
Male CV = 10 x 100% = 6.17%
162
Female CV = 4 x 100% = 2.70%
148

CV

QUARTILE DEVIATION:
The Quartile Deviation is another way of
determining the spread of distribution in the
terms of quartiles. The quartile deviation
formula is shown below:
QD = Q3 Q1
2
Where: QD = Quartile Deviation
Q3 = 3rd Quartile
Q1 = 1st Quartile

PERCENTILE RANGE:
The Percentile Range, PR, is the difference between
the 90th percentile (P90) and the 10th percentile
(P10). In symbol,
PR = P90 P10