Topic: Measures of Relative Position

I. Z-score

What do you know about z-score? Do you know how z-score is determined?

A z-score indicates how many standard deviations a data point is from the mean. A given raw
data can be converted in terms of z-score using the formula:

Where:

Hence, we can convert a given raw data if you know the mean and standard deviation of the set
where the raw data belongs.

How will you utilize the formula in converting a given raw score into its corresponding z score?

Interpreting Z-scores

After determining the corresponding z-score of a given raw score, we need to interpret it to be
able to identify its location.
Here is how to interpret z-scores.
1. A z-score less than 0 represents a data below the mean.
2. A z-score greater than 0 represents a data above the mean.
3. A z-score equal to 0 represents a data equal to the mean. Thus, it is found at the middle of
the distribution.

Example:
a. A z-score equal to 1 represents a data that is 1 standard deviation above the mean; a z-
score equal to 2, 2 standard deviations above the mean; etc.
b. A z-score equal to -1 represents a data that is 1 standard deviation below the mean; a z-
score equal to -2, 2 standard deviations below the mean; etc.

II. Quantiles

Do you know anything about quantiles? Aside from z scores, we can use quantiles as measure of
location. It is an extension of median concept where items in the distributions are divided into
equal parts.

Types of Quantiles

There are three types of quantiles namely: quartiles, deciles, and percentiles.
A. Quartiles divide the distribution into four equal parts. The values that divide the parts are
called first, second, and third quartiles. These are denoted by Q1, Q2, and Q3 respectively.
Below shows a representation of a set of observations divided into quartiles.

Q1 Q2 Q3

B. Deciles divide the distribution into 10 equal parts. The values divide the parts are called
first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eight, and ninth deciles. These are denoted
by D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, and D9 respectively.
 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9

C. Percentiles divide the set of observations into 100 divisions. These are the points or
values separating the scores into 100 parts. A percentile indicates the value below which
a given percentage of observations in a group of observations fall.

P10 P20 P30 P40 P50 P60 P70 P80 P90

Note: Quantiles are used in reporting scores from norm-referenced tests. For example, if a score
is at the 60th percentile, where 60 is the percentile rank, it is equal to the value below which
60% of the observations may be found.

Procedure in Determining Quantile Measures

To determine the value of the quantile of interest, the following guidelines can help you.
1. Arrange the given observations from lowest to highest.
2. Determine the ordinal rank (n) or location by applying the formulas below:
For Quartiles For Deciles For Percentiles

Where: Where: Where:

n = the ordinal rank n = the ordinal rank n = the ordinal rank

Q = the nth quartile D = the nth decile P = the nth percentile

N = the number of N = the number of N = the number of

 observations Observations Observations

3. Locate the score corresponding to the obtained ordinal rank (n) or location in the
distribution.
4. If the obtained location is not a whole number, interpolate.
5. Interpolate by subtracting the values of the upper and lower scores.
6. Multiply the difference by the decimal part of the obtained location.
7. Add the product to the lower score.

Activity 1

Directions: Based on what we have learned about z-score, convert the following raw scores to
their corresponding z-scores. Use the formula presented in the discussion and identify its
location.

Raw Score Mean Standard Z-score Location

Deviation
1. 24 20 2
2. 16 16 1
3. 18 24 8

Solution:
1. x = 24 = 20 =2

Interpretation: The corresponding z-score of the raw score is 2. It represents that the data can
be found 2 standard deviations above the mean.
 2. x = 16 = 16 =1

Interpretation: The corresponding z-score of the raw score is 0. It represents that the data is
equal to the value of the mean.

3. x = 18 = 24 =8

Interpretation: The corresponding z-score of the raw score is -0.75. It represents that the data
can be found 0.75 standard deviation below the mean.

Activity 2

Let us have another activity.

Directions: Given the mean and standard deviation of the distribution, convert the following raw
scores to their corresponding z scores and interpret their location relative to the distribution.
Good luck!
1. mean = 120 standard deviation = 10 raw score = 100
2. mean = 50 standard deviation = 5 raw score = 55
3. mean = 35 standard deviation = 4 raw score = 40

Activity 3

Let us try to follow the procedure in determining a quantile value. Do your best in answering the
following:
1. Find the 30th percentile of the set {12, 15, 17, 20, 25, 27, 29, 30, 30, 34, 36, 36, 37, 38,
39, 40, 41, 42, 43}
 2. Determine the 2nd quartile from the set {30, 34, 36, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 12, 15,
17, 20, 25, 27, 29, 30}
3. Determine the 2nd decile from the set {20, 25, 27, 29, 30, 30, 34, 36, 36, 12, 15, 17, 37,
38, 39, 40, 41, 42}

Solutions:
1. Note: The observations are already arranged from lowest to highest.

The given are: P = 30

N = 19

n = unknown

Value of the 30th percentile = unknown

The 30th percentile is the 6th observation from the set of data which is 27.

2. We arrange the observations from lowest to highest as: {12, 15, 17, 20, 25, 27, 29, 30, 30,
34, 36, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42}.

The given are: Q=2

N = 18

n = unknown

Value of the 2nd quartile = unknown

The whole number part of the ordinal part (n) is 9 and the 9th observation is 30. The value next
to 30 is 34 and their difference is 4. The product of their difference and the decimal part of the
ordinal rank (n) which is 0.5 is 2. Thus, the value of the 2nd quartile is 32.

3. We arrange the observations from lowest to highest as: {12, 15, 17, 20, 25, 27, 29, 30, 30,
34, 36, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42}

The given are: D=2

N = 18

n = unknown

Value of the 2nd decile = unknown

The whole number part of the ordinal part (n) is 3 and the 3rd observation is 17. The value next
to 17 is 20 and their difference is 3. The product of their difference and the decimal part of the
ordinal rank (n) which is 0.8 is 2.4. Thus, the value of the 2nd decile is 19.4.