MEASURES OF

Objectives:

CENTRAL
11. Define and explain statistical terms
12. Differentiate the different divisions of statistics
13. Identify the scale of measurement of variables
14. Differentiate data sets
15. Present da
C
H
TENDENCY
A OBJECTIVES:

P 1. Identify the location of a set of data using

FREQUENCY
Measures of Central Tendency
T
E
DISTRIBUTIONS
2. Calculate the measures of central tendency for both
group and ungroup data using manual computations.

3. Calculate measures of central tendency of a

R set of data using MS- Excel Worksheet

3 4. Differentiate group from the ungroup

data of Measures Central Tendency
5.
6.

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60 Jimczyville Publication
 MEASURES OF CENTRAL
TENDENCY
After the data have been presented in tabular or graphical form, the
researcher must be able to describe them in terms of a single number. This
single figure which is representative or summary of the characteristics of a given
set of data is called a measure of central tendency.

Most commonly used measures of central tendency are mean, median

and mode.

Measures of Central Tendency of Ungrouped Data

Ungrouped Data or Raw Data are those data which are not yet organized
or arranged into frequency distribution. If your number of observation is less
than or equal ( ) to 30 it is ungrouped data.

Mean

The arithmetic mean or arithmetic average is defined as the sum of all

items or terms divided by the total number of items or terms. The definition is
the same for both the sample and population, although we use different symbol
to refer to each.

The symbol for the sample mean is x bar ( x ), and for the population
mean is the Greek letter mu (µ).

Suppose you have six scores: 12, 10, 18, 16, 20 and 14. If x1=12, x2=10,
x3=18, x4=16, x5=20, x6=14 the mean as represented as x bar is:

x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5 + x6
x=
N

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 12 + 10 + 18 + 16 + 20 + 14
x= = 15
6

Instead of writing the equation for the mean as shown above you can shorten it
to:

Population Mean Sample Mean

=
x x=
x
N n
where: where:
 = the mean x = the mean

x= sum of all scores ∑x= sum of all the scores

N=total number of cases in the population n= total number of cases in the sample

Median

The median of ungrouped data is the value of the middle item after
arranging the data in an ascending or descending order.

Example 1: Compute for the median from the following set of scores; 6, 14, 10,
8, 2, 12 and 4.

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14

Answer: The median is 8, which is the middle item.

Example 2: Find the median of the following set of item; 6, 14, 10, 8, 12 and 4.

4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14

8 + 10
median = =9
Answer: 2

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Mode

The mode for ungrouped data is defined as the value that appears with
the highest frequency. That is, the item that appears most often.

Example:

Find the mode of the following set of items: 4, 7, 11, 6, 4, 3, 5, 8, 9, 2

Answer: The mode is 4.

Measures of Central Tendency of Grouped Data

Grouped data are those data organized and summarized in the forms of
frequency distribution. If your number of observation is greater than ( ) 30 it is

grouped data. These are data classified into categories for better presentation
and analysis.

Arithmetic Mean

Two methods of computing for the mean:

1. Long Method

x=
X F i i

n
where:
X i = classmark
Fi = frequency
n= total number of frequency

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 2. Short Method (coded formula)

 n 
  di fi 
x = Am +  i =1 i
 n 
 
 
A = assumed mean or class mark of the class
where: m
interval with the highest frequency

d i = coded deviation
f i = frequency
i = class interval
n = total number of frequency

Example

The mean score of the frequency distribution of 60 students in entrance

examination is shown below.

Class Frequency Class Mark

( X i Fi ) (d i ) (d i f i )
Interval ( fi ) (Xi )
18-26 8 22 176 -2 -16
27-35 13 31 403 -1 -13
36-44 21 40 840 0 0
45-53 6 49 294 1 6
54-62 12 58 696 2 24
n= 60 x i fi = d i f i =1
2409

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Solution

1. Using the Long Method

x=
X F i i

x=
 2409 = 40.15
60

2. Using the Short Method (coded formula)

 n 
  di fi 
x = Am +  i =1 i
 n 
 
 

 1 
x = 40 +  9 = 40.15
 60 
Median

The formula for finding the median of grouped data is given as follows:
𝑛⁄ − <𝑐𝑓
2
𝑀𝑑𝑛 = 𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑀𝑑𝑛 + 𝑐 ( 𝑓𝑖
)

where:

Mdn = median
𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑚𝑑𝑛 = Lower Class Boundary containing the median
class
<cf = less than cumulative frequency preceding the
median class
f i = frequency of the class interval containing the median
class
c = class interval
n= total number of frequency
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To solve for the median the following steps are followed.

1. Compute the less than cumulative frequency.

2. Find the class interval in which n/2, one half the total of respondent
must be equal to or greater than to the less than cumulative frequency
for the first time.
3. Apply the formula by substituting the given values.

Example: Compute the median of the given data:

Class Frequency
Cumulative
Interval ( fi ) Frequency <

18-26 8 8
27-35 13 21
36-44 21 42 median class

45-53 6 48
54-62 12 60
N= 60

n/2= 60/2 = 30

𝑛⁄ − < 𝑐𝑓
𝑀𝑑𝑛 = 𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑀𝑑𝑛 + 𝑐 ( 2 )
𝑓𝑖

60⁄ − 21
𝑀𝑑𝑛 = 35.5 + ( 2 ) 9 = 39.36
21

Answer: 39.36

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Mode

The formula for finding the mode of grouped data is given as follows:

𝑓𝑀𝑜 − 𝑓1
𝑀𝑜 = 𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑀𝑜 + 𝑐 ( )
2𝑓𝑀𝑜 − 𝑓1 − 𝑓2

where:
M o = Mode
𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑀𝑜 = Lower Class Boundary containing the modal class
𝑓𝑀𝑜 = frequency of the class interval containing the modal
class
𝑓1 = frequency of the class before the modal class
𝑓2 = frequency of the class after the modal class
c = class size
n= total number of frequency

Modal class is the class interval with the largest frequency.

Example: Compute the mode of the given data:

Class Frequency

Interval ( fi )

18-26 8
27-35 13
36-44 21
45-53 6
54-62 12
N= 60

𝑓𝑀𝑜 − 𝑓1
𝑀𝑜 = 𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑀𝑜 + 𝑐 ( )
2𝑓𝑀𝑜 − 𝑓1 − 𝑓2
(21 − 13)
𝑀𝑜 = 35.5 + 9 ( )
2(21) − 13 − 6

Ans. 38.63

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Weighted Mean

The weighted arithmetic mean of given groups data is the average of the
mean of all the groups. Consider the proper weights assigned to the observed
values according to their relative importance.

Formula for weighted mean is:

x=
 (wx )
n
where:
w= weight of each item
x=value of each item
n= total number of weights

Example 1

A man bought 10 liters of premium gasoline at P11.50 per liter, 12 liters at

P12.01 per liter and 18 liters at P11.78 per liter from three different gasoline
stations. Find the average price per liter.

w1 x1 + w2 x 2 + w3 x 3
x=
w1 + w2 + w3

10(11.50) + 12(12.01) + 18(11.78)

x=
10 + 12 + 18

471.16
x= = 11.78
40

x = 11.78

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Example 2.

Calculate the mean of the given responses for patients’ care then use the scale
below to interpret the result.

Equivalent
Range Interpretation Description
The event/ item happens all the time or 100% of the
4.21-5.00 O= Outstanding
time
The event/item happens most of the time or 67%-
3.41-4.20 VS= Very satisfactory
99% of the time
The event/item happens every now and then or
2.61-3.40 S= Satisfactory
32%-66% of the time
The event/item happens rarely or 1%- 31% of the
1.81-2.60 St = Sometimes
time

1.00-1.80 N = Never The event/item never happens or 0% of the time

Responses for Patient’s Care

Item Patients care 5 4 3 2 1

1 Psychological conditioning 10 21 17 11 1

2 Spiritual counseling 7 9 31 6 7

3 Involves patient in making health care plan 15 11 13 8 13

4 Provide privacy 6 5 8 25 16

5 Keeping information divinely confidential 20 15 5 13 7

6 Establishing rapport 9 21 15 10 5

7 Empathy 16 14 11 9 10

8 Identifies clinical indication of medications 25 23 4 3 5

9 Consent secure before the procedure 10 11 9 15 15

10 Respects clients opinion 17 5 4 30 4

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Solution

Item Patients care 5 4 3 2 1 Total

Psychological
1 10*5 21*4 17*3 11*2 1*1 208/60 3.47
conditioning
2 Spiritual counseling 7*5 9*4 31*3 6*2 7*1 183/60 3.05
Involves patient in
3 making health care 15*5 11*4 13*3 8*2 13*1 187/60 3.12
plan
4 Provide privacy 6*5 5*4 8*3 25*2 16*1 140/60 2.33
Keeping information
5 20*5 15*4 5*3 13*2 7*1 208/60 3.47
divinely confidential
6 Establishing rapport 9*5 21*4 15*3 10*2 5*1 199/60 3.32

7 Empathy 16*5 14*4 11*3 9*2 10*1 197/60 3.28

Identifies clinical
8 indication of 25*5 23*4 4*3 3*2 5*1 240/60 4.00
medications
Consent secure
9 10*5 11*4 9*3 15*2 15*1 166/60 2.77
before the procedure
Respects clients
10 17*5 5*4 4*3 30*2 4*1 181/60 3.02
opinion

Average 3.18

Interpretation

Patients Care as shown by the average mean of 3.18. Using the given scale, 3.18
belong to the range of 2.61 – 3.40, and the equivalent interpretation is
Satisfactory.

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MEASURES OF POSITION

Quantiles

The quantiles are a natural extension of the median concept in that they
are the values which divide the distribution into a given number of equal parts.
While the median divide the distribution into two parts, the quartiles divide the
distribution into four equal parts or quartiles, ten equal parts or deciles and one
hundred equal parts or percentiles.

Ungrouped Data

𝑖(𝑛+1)
Quartile
4

𝑖(𝑛+1)
Decile
10

𝑖(𝑛+1)
Percentile
100

Example : Find 3rd quartile for the following data.

5, 7, 11, 1, 17, 23, 19, 3, 9, 21, 15 and 13

Solution:

First thing to do is arrange the data in ascending order.

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23

For 3rd quartile:

i (n + 1) 3(12 + 1)
Q3 = = = 9.75th position → 9th position + .75 * (10th − 9th ) position
4 4

17 + .75 * (19-17) = 18.5

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 After you arranged the data in ascending order, you count what number
falls under the 9.75th position. To get the 9.75th position, we have to interpolate
from the given data. The 9.75th position is interpolated from the 9th position plus
.75 (10th-9th). The value of the third quartile is equal to 18.5.

Grouped Data

(𝑖𝑛⁄4)−< 𝑐𝑓𝑄𝑖−1
𝑄𝑖 = 𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑄𝑖 + 𝑐 ( )
𝑓𝑄𝑖
where:
𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑄𝑖 = the Lower Class Boundary of the 𝑄𝑖 th class
c= class size
n = total number of observations in the distribution
< 𝑐𝑓𝑄𝑖−1 = less than cumulative frequency
preceding the 𝑄𝑖 th class
𝑓𝑄𝑖 = frequency of the 𝑄𝑖 th class

(𝑖𝑛⁄10)−< 𝑐𝑓𝐷𝑖−1
𝐷𝑖 = 𝐿𝐶𝐵𝐷𝑖 + 𝑐 ( )
𝑓𝐷𝑖
where:
𝐿𝐶𝐵𝐷𝑖 = the Lower Class Boundary of the 𝐷𝑖 th class
c= class size
n = total number of observations in the distribution
< 𝑐𝑓𝐷𝑖−1 = less than cumulative frequency
preceding the 𝐷𝑖 th class
𝑓𝐷𝑖 = frequency of the 𝐷𝑖 th class

(𝑖𝑛⁄100)−< 𝑐𝑓𝑝𝑖−1
𝑃𝑖 = 𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑝𝑖 + 𝑐 ( )
𝑓𝑝𝑖
where:
𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑝𝑖 = the Lower Class Boundary of the 𝑃𝑖 th class
c= class size
n = total number of observations in the distribution
< 𝑐𝑓𝑝𝑖−1 = less than cumulative frequency
preceding the 𝑃𝑖 th class
𝑓𝑝𝑖 = frequency of the 𝑃𝑖 th class

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Example

The following is a frequency distribution of an achievement test. Compute the

third quartile (Q3 ).

Class Frequency Cumulative

Interval ( fi ) Frequency <
18-26 8 8
27-35 13 21
36-44 21 42

45-53 6 48 class interval containing

the desired quartile
54-62 12 60
N= 60

Solution

𝑖𝑛 (3)(60)
= = 45
4 4

(𝑖𝑛⁄100)−< 𝑐𝑓𝑄𝑖−1
𝑄𝑖 = 𝐿𝐶𝐵𝑄𝑖 + 𝑐 ( )
𝑓𝑄𝑖

 45 − 42 
Q3 = 44.5 + 9  = 49
 6 

Ans.: 49(third quartile)

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