RELATIVE MEASURES OF VARIATION

Coefficient of Variation shows a variation relative to the mean. It is used to compare two or more
groups of distribution of scores. Usually expressed in percent, the smaller the value of the coefficient of
variation, the more homogeneous the scores are. On the other hand, the higher the value of the coefficient of
variation, the more dispersed the scores are in that particular distribution.

The formula in computing the coefficient of variation is,

s
CV = ⋅ 100 %
x

where, s = standard deviation, x́ = mean value

Example: Find the coefficient of variation of the given data below:

Section A Section B Section C
10 10 10
10 13 10
10 15 11
14 15 11
14 15 12
16 15 12
17 16 12
18 16 15
18 16 17
19 16 20
19 17 20
20 20 20
Σ x =185 Σ x =184 Σ x =170
n = 12 n = 12 n = 12
x́=15.42 x́=15.33 x́=14.17
s = 3.75 s = 2.35 s = 4.04

Solution:
s s
CV A= ⋅100 % CV B = ⋅100 %
x x
3.75 2.35
= ⋅100 % = ⋅100 %
15.42 15.33
= 0.2432⋅100 % = 0.1533⋅100 %
CV A=24.32% CV B =15.33⋅100 %

s
CV C = ⋅100 %
x
4.04
= ⋅100 %
14.17
= 0.2851 ⋅100 %
CV C =28.51 %

Interpretation:
 The CV A is24.32 % , CV B is15.33 ⋅100 % , and CV C is 28.51 %, which means that the scores in Section
B are less scattered than the scores in Section A and Section C. In other words, the scores in section B are more
homogeneous than the scores in Section A and Section C. Another way to interpret the three score distributions is that the
scores in Section C are more spread out than the scores in Section A and Section B or the scores in Section C are more
heterogenous than the scores in Section A and Section B.

MEASURES OF SKEWNESS

Measures of skewness describes the degree of departure of the scores from the symmetry. The
skewness of a score distribution only tells about the performance of the students, but not reasons about their
performance. The skewness of coefficient (Sk) can be solved using the formula:
3( x́−~ x)
Sk=
s
where, x́ – mean value, ~
x – median value, and s = standard deviation

Skewness can be classified according to the skewness coefficient. Below are the classifications of
skewness and the summary of their properties.
Positively Negatively Normal
Skewed Skewed Distribution
Sk > 0 Sk < 0 Sk = 0
Skewed to the Skewed to the The scores are
right; this means left; meaning, the normally
that the thin end thin end tail of distributed.
tail of the curve the curve goes to
goes to the right the left part of
part of the the distribution.
distribution.
Most of the Most of the It is symmetrical
scores are low; scores are high; to the mean; the
hence, most of hence, most of end tails of the
the students got the students got curve can be
extended
scores below scores above the
indefinitely in
the mean value. mean value. both side and
asymptotic to the
horizontal line.
Mean value is Mean value is less The value of the
greater than the than the median mean, median
median and the and the mode and mode are
mode values. values. equal.
Example: Example:
Mean = 50, Mean = 43,
Median = 47, and Median = 47, and
Mode = 43. Mode = 50.
Poor Outstanding Most of the
performance of performance of students got a
the students; this the students; the score within the
could be performance of mean value;
attributed to the the students hence, most of
following: could be the students have
1. Ineffective attributed to the average
methods of following: performance.
 teaching and 1. Effective About 68.26% of
instruction; instruction; the students in
2. Students are 2. Students the group have
not ready to prepared average
take the themselves performance.
examination; for the
3. Test items examination;
are very 3. Very easy
difficult; and test items;
4. The time 4. There is
given to enough time
answer the to finish the
test is not examination,
enough. and
5. The group of
students are
intelligent.

Example 1. Find the coefficient of skewness of the scores of 30 Grade IV pupils in a 45-item test in Mathematics.
The mean is 38.50, the median is 35.25, and the standard deviation is 2.50.

Given:
x́ = 38.50 ~
x = 35.25 s = 2.50

3( x́−~x)
Sk=
s
3(38.50−35.25)
=
2.50
3(3.25)
=
2.50
9.7 5
=
2.50
Sk=3.90

Interpretation:
Sk = 3.90, so the value is positive. The score distribution is positively skewed. Most of the scores are
low; thus, the students performed poorly in the said examination.

Example 2. Find the coefficient of skewness of the scores of 30 Grade VI pupils in a 45-item test in Science. The
mean is 39.50, the median is 42.50, and the standard deviation is 3.25.

Given:
x́ = 39.50 ~
x = 42.50 s = 3.25

3( x́−~x)
Sk=
s
3(39.50−42.50)
=
3.25
 3(−3)
=
3.25
−9
=
3.25
Sk=−2.77

Interpretation:
Sk = -2.77, so the value is negative. The score distribution is negatively skewed. Most of the students’
scores are above the mean. Thus, the students performed well in the said examination.