MEASURES OF VARIABILITY

A measure of variability or dispersion is a quantity that measures the spread or variability of

the observations in a given population.

Common Measures of Variability:

1. Range
2. Quartile Deviation
3. Average Deviation
4. Variance
5. Standard Deviation

THE RANGE

The range, denoted by R, is defined as the difference between the highest value (HV) and the
lowest value (LV) in the set of data. In symbols,

R = HV – LV

For a grouped data, the range is obtained by subtracting the lower limit of the lowest class
from the upper limit of the highest class.

R = UL – LL

QUARTILE DEVIATION

This value of quartile deviation is obtained by getting one-half the difference between the
third and first quartiles. In symbols,

Q 3 −Q1
QD=
2

AVERAGE DEVIATION

The average deviation refers to the arithmetic mean of the absolute deviations of the values
from the mean of the distribution. This measure is sometimes referred to as mean absolute
deviation.
A. Average Deviation for Ungrouped Data

Formula is:
__

AD=
∑|X− X|
N
Where: X represents the individual values
___
X is the mean of the distribution

N is the total number of cases

B. Average Deviation for Grouped Data

For grouped data, the computing formula for the mean absolute deviation or average
deviation is given by

__

AD=
∑ f |X−X|
N

where: f represents the frequency of each class

X is the midpoint of each class

___
X is the mean of the distribution

N is the total number of cases

VARIANCE

The variance of a set of data, denoted by s 2, is the mean of the squared deviations of the
observations from the mean.

A. Variance for Ungrouped Data

__ 2

s2=
∑ ( X− X )
N
 where: X – represents the individual values
___
X – the mean

N – the sample size

Alternative computing formula:

2
∑ X2 ∑ X
s= 2
−
N ( ) N

B. Variance for Grouped Data

The computing formulas for the variance are based on ungrouped data. When the data are
presented in a frequency distribution, however, we shall have another computing formulas
specifically designed for grouped data. These formulas are given below.

___ 2
2 ∑ f (X− X )
s=
1. N

where X – midpoint of each class

__
X – mean

N – number of cases
2
fd 2 ∑ fd
2.
2
s=
∑
[ −
N ( )]
N
ci

where f – is the frequency

d – the unit deviation
N – the number of cases
ci – the class interval
STANDARD DEVIATION

The standard deviation, denoted by s, is defined as the positive square root of the variance.

A. Standard Deviation for Ungrouped Data

__ 2

1.
s=
√ ∑ ( X −X )
N

√ 2 (∑ X )
∑X −
N
s=
2. N

B. Standard Deviation for Grouped Data

__ 2

1.
s=
√ ∑ f ( X −X )
N

2.
s=
√ ∑ fX 2 − ( ∑ fX )
N −1 N ( N −1 )

3.
s=ci
√ ∑ fd 2 − ( ∑ fd )
N−1 N ( N−1 )
Name____________________________________Score_________________
Date_____________________________________Course Yr. & Sec._______

Exercise No. 6
Measures of Variability

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this exercise, the students are expected to:
1. Identify and compute the different measures of variability for
ungrouped and grouped data, specifically, the
a. Range
b. Quartile Deviation
c. Average Deviation
d. Variance
e. Standard Deviation

2. Interpret these numerical descriptive measures.

EXERCISES:

1. The following data summarize the total milk production (in pounds) during
the first location of n1=14 cows on a control diet and n2=14 cows on a
supplemented diet.

Control 889 579 606 961 746 886 518

Diet 900 818 992 397 769 778 753
Supplemented 799 721 262 229 369 279 524
Diet 426 607 648 871 241 137 129

a. Using the data above, determine the range, average deviation, variance and
standard deviation for control and supplemented diet.

b. Compare the values of the standard deviation and make conclusions about
the milk production under the two diets.
1. The given frequency table below describes the amount of nitrogen lost (expressed as
a percentage of the total amount of nitrogen applied) over a 16-week period when
Urea + N – Serve (UN) was used as the fertilizer for sugarcane.

Step Dis (%) F

90 – 98 3
81 – 89 8
72 – 80 12
63 – 71 11
54 – 62 10
45 – 53 6
36 – 44 5
27 – 35 3
18 – 26 2

Calculate the following:

1. Range
2. Quartile Deviation
3. Average Deviation
4. Variance
5. Standard Deviation