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COM 201 LessonNote

Dispersion in statistics refers to the extent to which numerical data varies around an average value, helping to understand data distribution. There are two main types of dispersion measures: absolute measures, which include range, variance, and standard deviation, and relative measures, which compare distributions of different data sets. Common coefficients of dispersion are calculated for various measures to facilitate comparisons between series with different averages or units.

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11 views8 pages

COM 201 LessonNote

Dispersion in statistics refers to the extent to which numerical data varies around an average value, helping to understand data distribution. There are two main types of dispersion measures: absolute measures, which include range, variance, and standard deviation, and relative measures, which compare distributions of different data sets. Common coefficients of dispersion are calculated for various measures to facilitate comparisons between series with different averages or units.

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Definition of Dispersion in Statistics

o Dispersion is the state of getting dispersed or spread. Statistical dispersion denotes the

extent to which a numerical data is likely to vary about an average value. In other

words, dispersion helps to understand the distribution of the data.

o The measures of dispersion are important as it helps in understanding how much a data

is spread (i.e. its variation) around a central value.


Measures of Dispersion

In statistics, the measures of dispersion help to interpret the variability of data i.e. to know

how much homogenous or heterogeneous the data is. In simple terms, it shows how

squeezed or scattered the variable is.


Types of Measures of Dispersion

There are two main types of dispersion methods in statistics which are:

o Absolute Measure of Dispersion

o Relative Measure of Dispersion


Types of Absolute Measures of Dispersion

o An absolute measure of dispersion contains the same unit as the original data set. Absolute

dispersion method expresses the variations in terms of the average of deviations of observations

like standard or means deviations. It includes range, standard deviation, quartile deviation, etc.
Absolute Measures of Dispersion
o Range: It is simply the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value
given in a data set. Example: 9.2, 4.9,6.4, 7.5, 8.3 => Range = 9.2 - 4.9 = 4.3
o Variance: Deduct the mean from each data in the set then squaring each of them and
adding each square and finally dividing them by the total no of values in the data set is the
variance. Variance (σ2)=∑(X−μ)2/N
o Standard Deviation: The square root of the variance is known as the standard deviation
i.e. S.D. = √σ.
o Quartiles & Quartile Deviation: The quartiles are values that divide a list of numbers
into quarters. The quartile deviation is half of the distance between the third and the first
quartile.
o Mean & Mean Deviation: The average of numbers is known as the mean and the
arithmetic mean of the absolute deviations of the observations from a measure of central
tendency is known as the mean deviation (also called mean absolute deviation).
Relative Measure of Dispersion

o The relative measures of dispersion are used to compare the distribution of two or more data
sets. This measure compares values without units. Common relative dispersion methods
include: Co-efficient of Range; Co-efficient of Variation; Co-efficient of Standard Deviation;
Co-efficient of Quartile Deviation; Co-efficient of Mean Deviation; Co-efficient of Dispersion

o The coefficients of dispersion are calculated (along with the measure of dispersion) when two
series are compared, that differ widely in their averages. The dispersion coefficient is also
used when two series with different measurement units are compared. It is denoted as C.D.
The common coefficients of dispersion are:

C.D. In Terms of Coefficient of dispersion

i. Range C.D. = (Xmax – Xmin) ⁄ (Xmax + Xmin)

ii. Quartile Deviation C.D. = (Q3 – Q1) ⁄ (Q3 + Q1)

iii. Standard Deviation (S.D.) C.D. = S.D. ⁄ Mean

iv. Mean Deviation C.D. = Mean deviation/Average


Further Reading

i. Dunn, O. J. (1977). Basic Statistics: A Primer for the Biomedical Sciences,


2nd Edition. Wiley, New York

ii. Gonick, L. and Smith, W. (1993). The Cartoon Guide to Statistics. Harper
Perennial, New York

iii. Larry, J. S. (1998). Schaurn’s Outline of Theory and Problems of Beginning


Statistics, McGraw-Hill

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