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Psychology > Measures of Central Tendency. > Flashcards

Measures of Central Tendency. Flashcards

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1
Q

Once we have collected our data, what do we need to do with it?

A

It needs to be summarised and analysed.

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2
Q

What must the summary of our data be?

A
  • Fair
  • Useful
  • Not Misleading
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3
Q

When we summarise data we must present it with the least amount of _____.

A

Ambiguity.

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4
Q

What is the trouble with summarising data?

A

The act of summarising inevitably results in distortions.

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5
Q

Clearly Summarising Data consists of 2 things, name them.

A
  1. Measures of Central Tendency

2. Measures of Dispersion.

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6
Q

The measure of central tendency is where we refer to the _____ value in a data ____ in some way.

A

Central Value, Data Set.

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7
Q

What measure does this refer to?

-To what extent do the values in a data set tend to vary around the central or typical value.

A

The Measure of Dispersion.

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8
Q

Name the 3 measures of Central Tendency.

A
  • Mean
  • Mode
  • Median.
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9
Q

What is the mean also known as?

A

The average.

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10
Q

How do we calculate the mean (average)?

A
  • Add up all the values in the data set

- Then divide by the number of values in the data set.

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11
Q

We calculate the mean to how many decimal points?

A

2 :)

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12
Q

Sum of all the scores
__________________ = the _____.

Number of scores

A

Mean.

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13
Q

What is the symbol for the mean?

A

X bar = x̄

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14
Q

What is the notation for the formula to calculate the mean?

A

x̄ =∑x
_____
N

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15
Q

∑x

What does this symbol mean?

A

Add up all the values in the data set.

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16
Q

N

What does this mean?

A

(Divide by) The total number of values .

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17
Q

What are the Pros of the mean?

A
  • Powerful Statistic which is used in estimating population parameters
  • Most Sensitive
  • Most Accurate
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18
Q

Why is the mean the most sensitive and accurate?

A

Because it works at an interval level of measurement.

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19
Q

What are the cons of the mean?

A
  • You can get funny numbers eg. 2.4 children

- Sensitive therefore easily distorted (by an outlier).

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20
Q

In a data set, what can the mean be distorted by?

A

An outlier.

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21
Q

What is an outlier?

A

A value that is lots higher or lower than the other data which distorts the mean.

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22
Q

What is meant when we say that the mean is distorted?

A

It is not representative of the data set.

23
Q

What measure of central tendency gets around the main disadvantage of the mean, regarding the effect of extreme values?

A

The Median.

24
Q

What is the median?

A

The central (middle) value in a data set.

25
Q

The median is easy to find in ___ numbered data sets.

A

Odd.

26
Q

In order to find the median, what must we do first?

A

Put the data set in numerical order.

27
Q

The bigger the data set, the harder it becomes to find the ______. It is more _____ consuming. What is used the help find the median position for big data sets?

A

Median.
Time.
A formula.

28
Q

What is the formula for finding the median position (k)?

A

K= N + 1
________
2

29
Q

When we calculate the median we need to have our data in ________ ___________.

A

Numerical Order.

30
Q

If there is an even number of numbers in the data set, where will the median position be?

A

It will be midway between 2 numbers.

31
Q

True or False?

Regardless of odd or even numbered data set we use the same formula to get the median position.

A

True.

32
Q

In an even numbered data set, once we have found the data position what do we have to do?

A

Find the two numbers that the median position is between and then fins the average of these 2 numbers.

33
Q

If the median position is 4.5, where will the median position be?

A

Midway between 4 and 5.

34
Q

What is a Pro of The Median?

A

It is unaffected by extreme values in one direction, therefore it is better for use with “skewed distributions”.

35
Q

Normally distributed data is best suited to the _____ and is in a classic ____- _____ curve.

A

Mean.

Bell-shaped curve.

36
Q

What measure of central tendency is best for data with a skewed distribution?

A

The median.

37
Q

What are the cons of the median?

A
  • Doesn’t take into account exact distances between values
  • We can’t use this measure in estimates of population parameters
  • Can be unrepresentative in small data sets.
38
Q

Aside from the mean and median, name the third measure of central tendency.

A

The mode.

39
Q

We can’t calculate an average or a median with ____ data. So what measure of central tendency is often used?

A

Nominal. The mode.

40
Q

What is the mode?

A

The value that occurs most often/ is the most frequent :)

41
Q

The mode is the most _____ occurring _______.

A

Frequently, Category.

42
Q

The mode is sometimes referred to as what?

A

The modal value.

43
Q

1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5.

What is the mode?

A

4 :)

44
Q

1, 2 ,3 ,4, 5.

What is the mode?

A

There is no (single) mode- They are all equally frequent.

45
Q

If there are 2 modes in a data set, what is this known as?

A

Bimodal.

46
Q

Nominal values are ________.

A

Categories.

47
Q

What is the typical measure of central tendency for nominal data?

A

The Mode.

48
Q

The ____ can also help avoid instances such as 2.4 children in ______ data at ______ levels of measurement.

A

Mode, discrete, higher.

49
Q

What are the pros of the mode?

A
  • Shows the most frequent, or typical value in a data set
  • Unaffected by extreme values in one direction
  • Can sometimes be informative when scale is discrete (2.4 children).
50
Q

What are the cons of the mode?

A
  • Doesn’t take into account the exact distances between values.
  • Can’t be used in estimates of population parameters
  • Not really useful for small datasets
  • Bimodal distributions can occur.
51
Q

For what scales can the mean be used for?

A

Interval or Ratio.

52
Q

For what scales can the median be used for?

A

Ordinal, (interval or ratio if more appropriate than mean).

53
Q

For what scales can the mode be used for?

A

Nominal (Ordinal, interval, ratio if more appropriate than other measures).

Psychology (24 decks)

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