Knowing how to find the mean, median, and mode can help you interpret data collected through psychological research. These values provide more insight into what may be considered "normal" or "abnormal" for a specific group of people in terms of cognitive processes or behaviors, for instance. Show
Because they are all measures of central tendency, psychology students often find it easy to confuse the three. Yet, there are differences in what each one is and how it is found. Here are some useful tips to help you distinguish between these measures, as well as how to calculate mean, median, and mode. Definition of Mean, Median, and ModeTo understand the differences between the mean, median, and mode, let's start by defining these three terms.
How to Find the MeanTake these two steps to calculate the mean:
As an example, imagine that your psychology experiment returned the following number set: 3, 11, 4, 6, 8, 9, 6. To calculate the mean, you first add all the numbers together (3 + 11 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 9 + 6 = 47). Then you divide the total sum by the number of scores used (47 / 7 = 6.7). In this example, the mean or average of the number set is 6.7. Recap of How to Find the MeanThe mean is calculated by adding all the scores together, then dividing by the number of scores you added. How to Find the MedianThe median is the middle score in the set. To find the median, you take these steps:
As an example, consider this set of numbers: 5, 9, 11, 9, 7. First, you arrange them in numerical order (5, 7, 9, 9, 11). Next, you count how many scores you have (5). Divide the total number of scores by 2 (5 / 2) and you get 2.5. Since you have an odd number of scores, you round 2.5 up to the number 3. The number in the third position of the data set is the median which, in this case, is 9 (5, 7, 9, 9, 11). To calculate the median for an even number of scores, imagine that your research revealed this set of data: 2, 5, 1, 4, 2, 7. Your first step is to put them in numerical order (1, 2, 2, 4, 5, 7). Next, add up the total number of scores (6), divide by 2, and you get 3 (6 / 2 = 3). Go to the score in the third position (1, 2, 2, 4, 5, 7) and add it to the number in the next position (1, 2, 2, 4, 5, 7) to get the sum of the two (2 + 4 = 6). Take 6 and divide it by 2 (the total number of scores you added together), and you get 3. So, the median for this example is 3. Recap of How to Find the MedianThe median is calculated by arranging the scores in numerical order, dividing the total number of scores by two, then rounding that number up if using an odd number of scores to get the position of the median or, if using an even number of scores, by averaging the number in that position and the next position. How to Find the ModeOf all the measures, finding the mode requires the least amount of mathematical calculation. Instead, since the mode is simply the most frequently occurring score in a distribution, all you do is look at all your scores and select the most common one.
As an example, consider the following number distribution: 2, 3, 6, 3, 7, 5, 1, 2, 3, 9. The mode of these numbers would be 3 since this is the most frequently occurring number (2, 3, 6, 3, 7, 5, 1, 2, 3, 9). If no number in a set occurs more than once, there is no mode for that set of data. It's also possible for a data set to have two modes. This is known as bi-modal distribution. Bi-modal distribution occurs when there are two numbers that are tied in frequency. For example, consider the following set of numbers: 13, 17, 20, 20, 21, 23, 23, 26, 29, 30. In this set, both 20 and 23 occur twice (13, 17, 20, 20, 21, 23, 23, 26, 29, 30). Therefore, they are both modes. Recap of How to Find the ModeTo find the mode, you identify the score that occurs most often within the data set. In cases where you have a large number of scores, creating a frequency distribution can be helpful in determining the mode. Pros and Cons of Mean, Median, and ModeEach measure of central tendency has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are a few to consider.
While the mean in math is theoretically neutral, some contend that the use of the mean in psychology can lead to inappropriate conclusions if care is not taken with its application. This is due, in part, to behavior and cognition being both complex and variable in nature. When to Use Mean, Median, and ModeHow do you determine whether to use the mean, median, or mode when analyzing psychology research? The one you select can depend on the data scores themselves. If there are no outliers in your data set, the mean may be the best choice in terms of accuracy since it takes into account each individual score and finds the average. Conversely, if outliers exist, the median or mode may be more accurate since the results won't be skewed. Also consider what you are trying to measure. Are you looking for the average (the mean), do you want to identify the middle score (the median), or are you looking for the score that appears most often (the mode)? While they are all measures of central tendency, each one looks at this tendency from a slightly different point of view. An Example of Mean, Median, and Mode in PsychologyImagine a research study in which psychologists are interested in learning the typical age at which someone might be diagnosed with schizophrenia. To collect this data, they send a questionnaire to mental health providers, asking that they share their patients' ages upon formal diagnosis. The responses received indicate that the practitioners' patients were the following ages:
Using the calculations above, you would find that the mean, median, and mode for this data set are all around 27 years (27.1 years, 27 years, and 27 years respectively). In this case, any of these measures could be used to help you arrive at the typical age of onset. But what if you had an additional score of 13? In this case, the calculation of the mean would be 25.6, while the median and mode would both be 27. Since the mean includes an outlier, median and mode would be more accurate as they aren't skewed by this number. In case you are curious, the National Alliance on Mental Health reports that the average age of schizophrenia onset for men is late teens to early 20s, while women tend to be diagnosed with this condition in their late 20s to early 30s. A Word From Verywell Mean, median, and mode all serve a valuable purpose in analyzing psychological data. They all also have their pros and cons. Knowing how to find mean,
median, and mode—as well as their strengths and weaknesses—can help you better interpret data collected via psychology research. How do you find the median of a set of scores quizlet?Find the middle-most score. That's the median. An even number of scores means there is no middle value. When there is an even number of values, the median is simply the mean of the two middle values.
How do you find the median on quizlet?Step 1 - Arrange the numbers in order from least to greatest. Step 2 - Find the middle number. Step 3 - If there are two middle numbers, find the mean of these two numbers.
What is the median of a data set quizlet?The median of a data set is the middle value in its ordered list. The mode of a data set is its most frequently occurring value.
What is the preferred measure of central tendency for scores measured on an ordinal scale?– When scores are measured on an ordinal scale, the median is always appropriate and is usually the preferred measure of central tendency.
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