Measures of Dispersion

Measures of dispersion are statistical tools i.e. descriptive statistical measures which are used to
measure the variation or spread or scatterness or deviation of data from the central value. So, it gives
an idea of homogeneity or heterogeneity of the distribution.

Measures of Dispersion

The various measures of dispersion are as follows.

1. Range
2. Quartile deviation or Semi-interquartile range
3. Mean deviation or Average deviation.
4. Standard deviation
5. Lorenz curve
6. Ginni’s coefficient
But Lorenz curve and Ginni’s coefficient are beyond of our syllabus.

Range
It is defined as the difference between largest (maximum) value and smallest (minimum) value for the
given observations of the distribution.
Range (R) = L – S.
Where, L = Largest item or observation
S = Smallest item or observation
In case of grouped frequency distribution (i.e. continuous frequency distribution) range is defined as
the upper limit of the highest class and the lower limit of the smallest class.
Coefficient of range =
It is a relative measure of dispersion.

Quartile Deviation or Semi-interquartile Range

Q
Quartile deviation is a measure of dispersion based on the upper quartile 3 and lower quartile Q1.
The difference between the upper quartile Q3 and lower quartile Q1 is known as inter-quartile range.
Inter-quartile range = Q3-Q1
The half of the inter-quartile range is called semi-interquartile range, which is also known as quartile
deviation. Generally, it is denoted by quartile deviation (Q.D.) and is given by
Note:
 Quartile deviation (Q.D.) is the most suitable or appropriate measure of dispersion for open
end classes and cumulative frequency distribution.
 Less the coefficient of Q.D. implies more will be the uniformity or less will be the variability.
 Greater the coefficient of Q.D. implies less will be the uniformity or greater will be the
variability.
For all series, at first arranging the given data in ascending order.
For individual series
Q 3 −Q 1
2
Quartile deviation (Q.D.) =

Where
First quartile (Q1) = Value of item
Third quartile (Q3) = Value of item

1
 n = Number of observatins.
For discrete series
Q 3 −Q 1
2
Quartile deviation (Q.D.) =

Where

( )
th
First quartile (Q1) = Value of N +1 item
4

( )
th
Third quartile (Q3) = Value of 3(N +1) item
4
N=∑ f = Total frequency
and relative measure of Q.D is
Coefficient of quartile deviation =
For continuous series
Q 3 −Q 1
2
Quartile deviation (Q.D.) =

Where
First quartile (Q1) = L + × h
Third quartile (Q3) = Q3 = × h
Coefficient of quartile deviation =
Mean Deviation or Average deviation

Mean deviation is defined as the arithmetic mean of the absolute (modulas) deviations of the items or
observations taken from their central values. The central values generally are taken as mean, median
or mode. If the average deviation is taken from mean, median, or mode, then they are said to be mean
deviation from mean, mean deviation from median or mean deviation from mode respectively.

Individual Series

∑ |X− X|
M.D. from Mean = n

∑ |X− Md|
M.D. from Median = n

∑ |X− Mo|
n
M.D. from Mode =

Discrete Series

2
 ∑ f |X −X|
M.D. from Mean = N

∑ f |X −Md|
M.D. from Median = N

∑ f |X −M o|
M.D. from Mode = N

Where, X = value of variable.

Continuous series (grouped frequency distribution)

Formula as same in discrete series but X is middle value of the class.

∑ f |X −X|
M.D. from Mean = N

∑ f |X −Md|
M.D. from Median = N

∑ f |X −M o|
M.D. from Mode = N

M.D. is an absolute measure of dispersion. But for comparing two or more distributions, we need
relative measure of dispersion. The relative measure of dispersion based on M.D. is known as
coefficient of M.D. and given by

Coefficient of M.D. from Mean =

Coefficient of M.D. from Median =

Coefficient of M.D. from Mode =

Standard Deviation

Standard deviation is defined as “the positive square root of the arithmetic mean of the square of the
deviations of the given set of observations from their arithmetic mean.” It is usually denoted by Greek
alphabet  (sigma).

Standard deviation is said to be the best measure of dispersion (or ideal measure of dispersion) or
simply “Dispersion” as it satisfies almost all the requisites (or characteristics) of an ideal or a good
measure of dispersion.

For Individual Series

3
S.D.
(σ )=
√ ∑ ( X −X )2
n - Actual mean method

√ ( )
2
∑ X2 − ∑ X
S.D. (σ ) = n n - direct method

√ ( )
2
∑ d2 − ∑ d
S.D. (σ ) = n n - Short cut method

Where,

d=X–A

A = Assumed mean

For Discrete Series

S.D.
(σ )=
√ ∑ f ( X− X )2
N - Actual mean method

√ ( )
2
∑ fX 2 − ∑ fX
S.D. (σ ) = N N - Direct method

√ ( )
2
∑ fd 2 − ∑ fd
S.D. (σ ) = N N - Short cut method

Where,

d=X–A

A = Assumed mean

For Continuous Series

S.D.
(σ )=
√ ∑ f ( X− X )2
N - Actual mean method

√ ( )
2
∑ fX 2 − ∑ fX
S.D. (σ ) = N N - direct method

4
 √ ( )
2
∑ fd 2 − ∑ fd
S.D. (σ ) = N N - Short cut method

√
2

( )
2
∑ fd' −
∑ fd' ×h
S.D. (σ ) = N N - Step-deviation method

h = class size (common factor)

Note:

(i) Formula for calculating s.d. ( σ ) is same in case of continuous series and discrete series but X is
middle value of the class intervals in case of continuous series but X is the given value of
variable for discrete series.

Variance
2
The square of the standard deviation is known as variance. It is denoted by σ and given by
2
σ =V ( X ) Where V(X) = variance of variable x

∴σ= √V ( X )
Combined standard deviation

For two groups (Two series)

√
n1 σ 2 +n 2 σ 2 +n1 d 2 +n 2 d 2
1 2 1 2
σ 12=
n1 + n2 Where,
d 1 =X 1 −X 12

d 2 =X 2 −X 12

n1 X 1 +n2 X 2
X 12=
n 1 +n2

Similarly, the combined standard for three series is given by

√
n 1 σ 2 +n2 σ 2 + n3 σ 2 + n1 d 2 + n2 d 2 +n3 d 2
1 2 3 1 2 3
σ 123 =
n1 + n2 +n3

Where,
d 1 =X 1 −X 123

d 2 =X 2 −X 123

5
 d 3 =X 3 −X 123

n1 X 1 + n 2 X 2 + n3 X 3
X 123 =
n1 +n 2 +n3

Coefficient of Variation (c.v.)

The coefficient of standard deviation expressed in percentage is known as coefficient of variation.
Symbolically,

C.V. = × 100%

It is a relative measure of dispersion, so it is independent of units of measurement. It is always

expressed in percentage. Therefore, C.V. can betterly be used to compare two or more than two
distributions with regard to their variability, consistency, uniformity, homogeneity, equitability,
stability etc.
Coefficient of variation (C.V.) is applicable for the comparison of variability of two or more than two
distributions (series) as follows

Less C.V. is considered as More C.V. is considered as

More consistent Less consistent

More homogeneous Less homogeneous

More uniform Less uniform

More stable Less stable

More representative to mean Less representative to mean

More equitable Less equitable

Less variable More variable

Less disparity More disparity