Drawing
Conclusions from
Statistical Data:
Measures of Central
Tendency
Introduction to Measures
of Central Tendency
● Measures of central tendency help us
understand the "middle" or "typical" value
in a dataset
● We'll explore three main measures: mean,
median, and mode
● These measures allow us to draw
meaningful conclusions from statistical
data
● How do you think these measures might
be useful in real life?
What is the Mean?
● The mean is the average of all values in a
dataset
● To calculate: add up all numbers and
divide by how many there are
● Example: For the numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,
the mean is (2+4+6+8+10) ÷ 5 = 6
● When might the mean be a useful measure
in your daily life?
Interpreting the Mean
● The mean represents the "balance point" of the data
● It's affected by every value in the dataset
● Useful for understanding the overall trend in the data
● Can you think of a situation where the mean might not be
the best measure to use?
What is the Median?
● The median is the middle value when the
data is arranged in order
● To find: order the numbers and select the
middle one
● If there's an even number of values, take
the average of the two middle numbers
● Why do you think we might use the median
instead of the mean sometimes?
Interpreting the Median
● The median represents the "center" of the data
● It's not affected by extreme values (outliers)
● Useful when data is skewed or has outliers
● Can you think of a real-world scenario where the median
would be more appropriate than the mean?
What is the Mode?
● The mode is the value that appears most
frequently in a dataset
● A dataset can have one mode, multiple
modes, or no mode
● Example: In the set 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6,
the mode is 5
● When might the mode be particularly
useful in analyzing data?
Interpreting the Mode
● The mode represents the most common or typical value
● Useful for categorical data or discrete numerical data
● Can indicate popularity or frequency in a dataset
● Can you think of a situation where knowing the mode would
be more helpful than the mean or median?
Comparing Mean,
Median, and Mode
● Each measure provides different insights
into the data
● They can be the same or different for a
given dataset
● The relationship between them can
indicate the shape of the distribution
● Which measure do you think would be
most useful for describing your test
scores? Why?
Skewed Distributions
● Skewed distributions are asymmetrical
● In a right-skewed distribution: mean >
median > mode
● In a left-skewed distribution: mode >
median > mean
● How might understanding skewness help
you interpret data more accurately?
Outliers and Their Impact
● Outliers are extreme values that differ significantly from
other observations
● They can greatly affect the mean, but have less impact on
the median
● The mode is not affected by outliers
● Can you think of a real-life situation where outliers might
occur in a dataset?
Choosing the Right Measure
● Consider the type of data and its distribution
● Think about what you want to communicate about the data
● Use mean for normally distributed data without outliers
● Use median for skewed data or when there are outliers
● Use mode for categorical data or to find the most common
value
● Which measure would you choose to describe the "typical"
salary in a company? Why?
Real-World Example: Test
Scores
● Dataset: 65, 70, 75, 75, 80, 85, 85, 90, 95,
100
● Mean = 82
● Median = 82.5
● Mode = 75, 85 (bimodal)
● What conclusions can you draw about the
class performance based on these
measures?
Real-World Example:
Housing Prices
● Dataset: $150k, $180k, $200k, $210k,
$220k, $250k, $1M
● Mean ≈ $315,714
● Median = $210,000
● Mode = None (all values unique)
● Which measure do you think best
represents the "typical" house price here?
Why?
Using Technology to Calculate Measures
● Many calculators have built-in statistical functions
● Spreadsheet software like Excel can easily calculate these
measures
● Online tools and apps are also available for quick
calculations
● How might using technology help you analyze larger
datasets more efficiently?
Visualizing Data:
Histograms
● Histograms show the distribution of
numerical data
● They can help you visualize where the
mean, median, and mode might be
● The shape of the histogram can indicate
which measure might be most appropriate
● How do you think a histogram could help
you understand a dataset better than just
numbers?
Visualizing Data: Box
Plots
Exploring Data
Distributions
● Data distributions come in different shapes
● Normal distribution: Symmetrical, bell-
shaped curve
● Skewed distributions: Right-skewed (tail to
the right) or left-skewed (tail to the left)
● Understanding the shape helps you
choose the best measure of central
tendency
● Can you think of real-life examples that
might have different distribution shapes?
When to Use Each Measure
● Mean: Best for symmetrical distributions without outliers
● Median: Ideal for skewed data or when there are outliers
● Mode: Useful for categorical data or finding the most
common value
● Consider the context and what you want to communicate
about the data
● Which measure would you use to describe typical
household income in your area? Why?
Measures of Spread:
Adding Context
● Range: Difference between the highest
and lowest values
● Interquartile Range (IQR): Spread of the
middle 50% of the data
● Standard Deviation: Average distance from
the mean
● These measures help you understand how
spread out your data is
● How might knowing the spread of data
help you draw more accurate conclusions?
Comparing Groups Using Central Tendency
● Use measures of central tendency to compare different
groups or datasets
● Example: Comparing test scores between two classes
● Look at both the central tendency and spread to get a
complete picture
● Be cautious about drawing conclusions from small
differences
● Can you think of a situation where you'd want to compare
two groups using these measures?
Limitations and Critical
Thinking
● Remember that summary statistics don't
tell the whole story
● Be aware of potential biases in data
collection or analysis
● Consider the sample size and how
representative it is
● Always look at the context and bigger
picture when drawing conclusions
● Why is it important to think critically about
statistical data in your everyday life?
