01C - Statistics - Central Tendency, Median

What is the median score if the number of scores is odd?

The median score is the one in the middle with an equal number of scores below and above it.

In skewed distributions, what may be the better choice: mean or median?

The median that case would be a better choice for measuring central tendency if we wanted to represent the bulk of the scores and not give a new way to a deviant score as using the mean would do.

What is the median score if the number of scores is even?

If there are no repeating scores, it is the average of the two middle scores.

What is the median?

It is a point along the scale of possible scores that half of the scores are above it and half of the scores are below it.

What is an outlier?

It is an extreme score(s) in a distribution that differs from the bulk of the scores or values.

The median is more, or less, sensitive than the mean to the presence of a few outliers?

Less sensitive.

Is the median very sensitive?

Not always. For example, in the series 7, 11, 12, 1000 we are not told much about what is happening in the distribution. It is responsive to the number of scores above or below it, but not to their magnitude.

How was the term median written?

P50 or Mdn.

What is the first step to determine the median?

Put the scores in rank order from lowest to highest including zeros.

What is the median for the series 5, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8

The real lower limit is 7.5 because the median comes after the first of the four 8's, or one quarter of the way through the interval with of 1.0, so the median is calculated by interpolation of 7.5+ 1/4 x 1.0 = 7.75.

Can you use the median for open ended distributions?

Yes, as an example of how long it takes bystanders to help a fallen person, what if nobody helps. You could not with a mean.