Measures of Variability/Dispersion

a) It is a measure as regards to how far are the individual data/scores from each other
in a set of distribution.

b) the larger the value, the farther the deviation.

c) large variability indicates the presence of several extreme values.

d) smaller variability indicates homogeneity.

Ways of determining variability of a set of distribution

1) Range
2) Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD)
3) Quartile Deviation
4) Variance and Standard Deviation
5) Coefficient of Variation

1) Range as a Measure of Variability

A) Range of Ungrouped Data

Formula: Range = HS – LS where; HS – highest value in a set of distribution

LS – lowest value in a set of distribution

Example: Find the Range of the following sets of distribution:

1) Ages of Customers: 35, 63, 40, 42, 37, 38, 39, 42, 41, 50, 52, 53, 40, 37, and 38

Range = HS – LS
= 63 – 35
= 28

2) Number of units of rice cooker sold in a 10-day sale: 12, 10, 10 5, 5, 7, 8, 11, 11, & 7.

Range = HS – LS
= 12 – 5
=7

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B) Range of Grouped Data without Class Interval

Formula: Range = HS – LS where; HS – highest value in a set of distribution

LS – lowest value in a set of distribution

Example 2:

Results of a 35-item Test of 39 students

Range = HS – LS
= 33 – 7
= 26

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C) Range of Grouped Data with Class Interval

Note: There are several formulas in determining the range of Grouped Data with CI.

a) Using Class Mark

Range = HX – LX ; where, HX – Highest Class Mark

LX – Lowest Class Mark

b) Using Class Boundaries

Range = H – L ; where, H – Highest Upper Class Boundary

L – Lowest Class Boundary

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2) Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) as a Measure of Variability

A) MAD of Ungrouped Data

Note: In finding the MAD, it is necessary to determine Mean first.

How to interpret the result? Therefore, the average (mean) distance of the ages
from the mean (43.13) is 6.07.

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B) MAD of Grouped Data without CI

Example: Results of a 35-item Test of 39 students

Score (x) F
33 3
31 6
30 7
26 4
23 5
17 2
15 5
10 3
7 4
Total 39

Find the MAD

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Solution

Score How to get How to get

f fx x- Ix- I f Ix – I
(x)
33 3 99 10.41 10.41 31.23 33 - 22.59 = 10.41 3 (10.41) = 31.23
31 6 186 8.41 8.41 50.46 31 - 22.59 = 8.41 6 (8.41) = 50.46
30 7 210 7.41 7.41 51.87 30 - 22.59 = 7.41 7 (7.41) = 51.87
26 4 104 3.41 3.41 13.64 36 - 22.59 = 3.41 4 (3.41) = 13.64
23 5 115 0.41 0.41 2.05 33 - 22.59 = 0.41 5 (0.41) = 2.05
17 2 34 -5.59 5.59 11.18 37 - 22.59 = -5.59 2 (5.59) = 11.18
15 5 75 -7.59 7.59 37.95 35 - 22.59 = -7.59 5 (7.59) = 37.95
10 3 30 -12.59 12.59 37.77 30 - 22.59 = -12.59 3 (12.59) = 37.77
7 4 28 -15.59 15.59 62.36 3 - 22.59 = -15.59 4 (15.59) = 62.36
Total 39 881 298.51

Step 3. Solve the MAD

= 298.51 / 39
= 7.65

How to interpret the result? Therefore, the average (mean) distance of the scores
from the mean (22.59) is 7.65.

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C) MAD of Grouped Data with Class Interval

Example: Find the MAD of the given set of data.

Class Interval f
90 94 4
85 89 2
80 84 7
75 79 4
70 74 3
65 69 5
60 64 2
55 59 3
Total 30

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Solution:

Class How to get How to get

Class x- Ix- I f Ix – I
f mark fx
Interval
(x)
90 94 4 92 368 16.33 16.33 65.32 92 - 75.67 = 16.33 4 (16.33) = 65.32
85 89 2 87 174 11.33 11.33 22.66 87 - 75.67 = 11.33 2 (11.33) = 22.66
80 84 7 82 574 6.33 6.33 44.31 82 - 75.67 = 6.33 7 (6.33) = 44.31
75 79 4 77 308 1.33 1.33 5.32 77 - 75.67 = 1.33 4 (1.33) = 5.32
70 74 3 72 216 -3.67 3.67 11.01 72 - 75.67 = -3.67 3 (-3.67) = 11.01
65 69 5 67 335 -8.67 8.67 43.35 67 - 75.67 = -8.67 5 (-8.67) = 43.35
60 64 2 62 124 -13.67 13.67 27.34 62 - 75.67 = -13.67 2 (-13.67) = 27.34
55 59 3 57 171 -18.67 18.67 56.01 57 - 75.67 = -18.67 3 (-18.67) = 56.01
Total 30 2270 275.32

Step 1. Find the Mean

= 2270 / 30
= 75.67

Step 3. Solve the MAD

= 275.32 / 30
= 9.18

How to interpret the result? Therefore, the average (mean) distance of the scores
from the mean (75.67) is 9.18.

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3) Quartile Deviation (QD) as a Measure of Variability

Note: There is only one Formula of QD for Ungrouped Data, Grouped data w/o Class
Interval, and Grouped data with Class Interval.

𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
Formula: 𝑄𝐷 = 2
𝑄3−𝑄1
Or 𝑄𝐷 = where; Q3 – Third Quartile
2
Q1 – First Quartile

Note: However, in finding the Q3 and Q1, follow the designated formula for Ungrouped
data, Grouped data without Class Interval, and Grouped data with Class Interval
respectively (the formulas are different).

Example: Find the Quartile Deviation given the following:

Data: Q3 = 86.46, and Q1 = 32.58

𝑄3−𝑄1
𝑄𝐷 =
2

86.46−32.58
𝑄𝐷 =
2

= 26.94

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4) Variance (s2) and Standard Deviation (s)

a) The variance and standard deviations are the most commonly used measures of
variation for interval and ratio data.

b) These two measures are the most reliable measure in analyzing variation in a set of
distribution

A) Variance (s2) and Standard Deviation (s) of Ungrouped Data

Example: Find the Variance and Standard Deviation.

Ages of Customers: 35, 63, 40, 42, 37, 38, 39, 42, 41, 50, 52, 53, 40, 37, and 38

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Solution:

How to get How to get

Score x- (x- )2

35 -8.13 66.0969 35 - 43.13 = -8.13 -8.13 (8.13) = 66.0969

63 19.87 394.8169 63 - 43.13 = 19.87 19.87 (19.87) = 394.8169
40 -3.13 9.7969 40 - 43.13 = -3.13 -3.13 (-3,13) = 9.7969
42 -1.13 1.2769
37 -6.13 37.5769
38 -5.13 26.3169
39 -4.13 17.0569
42 -1.13 1.2769
41 -2.13 4.5369
50 6.87 47.1969
52 8.87 78.6769
53 9.87 97.4169
40 -3.13 9.7969
37 -6.13 37.5769
38 -5.13 26.3169
647 855.7335

Step 1. Find the mean

= 647 / 15 15 is the total number of customers

= 43.13

Step 3. Solve the Variance Step 4. Solve the Standard Deviation

𝒔 = √ 𝟔𝟏. 𝟏𝟐𝟑𝟖𝟐𝟏𝟒𝟑
= 855.7335 / (15 – 1)
= 7.818172512
= 61.12382143
s = 7.82
s2 = 61.12

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B) Variance (s2) and Standard Deviation (s) of Grouped Data without CI

Example: Results of a 35-item Test of 39 students.

Find the variance and standard deviation

Score (x) f
33 3
31 6
30 7
26 4
23 5
17 2
15 5
10 3
7 4
Total 39

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Solution

Score How to get How to get

f fx x-X ( x – X )2 f ( x – X )2
(x) (x–X) 2
f ( x – X )2
33 3 99 10.41 108.3681 325.1043 10.41 (10.41= 108.3681 3 (108.3681) = 325.1043
31 6 186 8.41 70.7281 424.3686 8.41 (8.41) = 70.7281 6 (70.7281) = 424.3686
30 7 210 7.41 54.9081 384.3567
26 4 104 3.41 11.6281 46.5124
23 5 115 0.41 0.1681 0.8405
17 2 34 -5.59 31.2481 62.4962
15 5 75 -7.59 57.6081 288.0405
10 3 30 -12.59 158.5081 475.5243
7 4 28 -15.59 243.0481 972.1924
Total 39 881 2979.4359

Step 1. Solve the mean

Mean = 881 / 39
= 22.59

Step 2. Solve the variance

s2 = 2979.4359 / (39 – 1)
= 78.40620789
s2 = 78.41

Step 3. Solve the standard deviation

𝒔 = √ 𝟕𝟖. 𝟒𝟎𝟔𝟐𝟎𝟕𝟖𝟗

= 8.854727997

s = 8.85

Therefore, the standardized deviation of the scores from the mean (22.59) is 8.85.

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5) Coefficient of Variation (CV) as a Measure of Variability

a) it is the ratio of standard deviation and the mean.

b) it indicates the ratio and percentage of the standardized deviation of the

data/values/scores from the mean.

Note: There is only one Formula of CV for Ungrouped Data, Grouped data w/o Class
Interval, and Grouped data with Class Interval.

𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Formula: 𝐶𝑉 = (100)
𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛
𝑠
Or 𝐶𝑉 = (100) where; s – standard deviation
𝑋
X – mean
Note: The result is reported in percentage

Points to remember: However, in finding the Mean and Standard Deviation, follow the
designated formula for Ungrouped data, Grouped data without Class Interval, and
Grouped data with Class Interval respectively (the formulas are different).

Example: Find the Coefficient of Variation given the following (Grades of Students):

Data: X = 86.46, and s = 8.47

86.46
𝐶𝑉 = (100)
8.47

= 10.21%

Therefore, the grades of students standardized deviated from the mean (86.46) by
10.21%.

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