Lesson 3

SUMMARIZING DATA USING DESCRIPTIVE MEASURES

LEARNING OUTCOME(S):
At the end of lesson, you are expected to:
 Identify appropriate descriptive measures for a specific type of variable
 Solve the descriptive measures of the data
 Summarize the data using descriptive measures

Summarizing data means to "simplify" the data. It is describing the center and
how densely the data is distributed around the center. Descriptive measure is a single
number that describes the set of data. It gives the relevant and useful information
without losing any features of importance of the data.
The appropriate summaries or descriptive measure depend on whether the
data is categorical or numerical.

3.1 MEASURE OF CENTRAL LOCATION

The Measure of central tendency or the averages are measurements that tell
us where the middle of the data lies. The three most common measures are the Mean,
the Median, and the Mode.

The arithmetic mean, or simply the mean, is defined as the sum of the set of
the observations that is divided by the number of that particular set of observations.
The biggest disadvantage of this descriptive measure is that it can’t be used in the case
of qualitative data and it is also affected by extreme values.

1 1
𝜇 = ∑𝑁i=1 X i (population mean) ; = ∑i=1
𝑛 X
i (sample mean)
𝑁 𝑛

Example 1

The numbers of hours spent by 8 students in studying per week were recorded
as follows: 5, 7, 2, 6, 2, 8, 4 and 6. Find the mean.

1 |Measure of central tendency Lynn M. Remo2020

 Solution: Since, it was not mentioned that the data are random sample, we assume,
and that this is a population data.

5+7+2+6+2+8+4+6 40
𝜇= = = 5 hours.
8 8

Example 2

Seven students were randomly selected from the class. There scores in a 50-
items exam were recorded as follows: 33, 27, 45, 26, 11, 48, and 20. Compute the
mean score.

Your solution here

Now, try using the calculator in solving for the mean

Adjust the mode to SD or Stat

Enter the data
Shift s-var – mean (1) , then (=)

EXERCISES
Raw data Mean

1. 14,23,15,12,17,14,28 17.57

14 + 23 + 15 + 12 + 17 + 14 + 28
= 17. 57
7
2. 27,24,20,22,18,16,13,20,21,12 19.3
27 + 24 + 20 + 22 + 18 + 16 + 13 + 20 + 21 + 12
10 = 19. 3

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 3. 27,18,29,23 24.25
27 + 18 + 29 + 23
= 24. 25
4
4. 21,16,20,26,27,18,25,24,19,20,24 21.82

21 + 16 + 20 + 26 + 27 + 18 + 25 + 24 + 19 + 20 + 24
11
= 21. 82
5. 22,17,21,22,19,20,19,17,25 20.22

22 + 17 + 21 + 22 + 19 + 20 + 19 + 17 + 25
= 20. 22
9

The Median

It is a middle value of a set of observation arranged in increasing or decreasing

order of magnitude. It is a value of the variable which divides the data under
consideration into two equal parts. It is not affected by the presence of abnormally
large or abnormally small observations.

𝑛+1
If n is odd 𝑀𝑒𝑑i𝑎𝑛 = where n is the total number of observation
2

𝑛 + 𝑛
( 2) ((2)+1)
If n is even 𝑀𝑒𝑑i𝑎𝑛 = 2

The population median can be obtained by replacing the n by N.

Properties of the Median

1. The score or class in a distribution, below which 50% of the score fall and above
which another 50% lie.
2. Not affected by extreme or deviant values
3. Appropriate to use when there are outliers or extreme values
4. Use when the data are ordinal
5. It exists in both quantitative and qualitative data

Example 1

The numbers of hours spent by 8 students in studying per week were recorded
as follows: 5, 7, 2, 6, 2, 8, 4 and 6. Find the median

Solution: The data are 5, 7, 2, 6, 2, 8, 4 and 6. Arrange in increasing order.

2, 2, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8 where N = 8 (even)

The location of the median is 8 = 4, since n is even number, there are 2 middle values,
2
in 4th and 5th order.

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 The 4th data = 5 and the 5th data = 6
5+6
𝑀𝑒𝑑i𝑎𝑛 = = 5.5
2

Median = 5.5

Example 2

Seven students were randomly selected from the class. There scores in a 50-items
exam were recorded as follows: 33, 27, 45, 26, 11, 48, and 20. Find the median.

Solution

The arranged data is 11, 20,26,27,33,48

Since n = 7 (odd) ,the location of the data is 7 = 3.5 = 4 since it n=7 is odd number,
2
there is only one median located on the 4th

Median = 27

EXERCISE. Provide solutions to the following set of data.

Raw data Median

1. 14,23,15,12,17,14,28,17,21,15 N=10 16
Ordered data

2. 27,24,20,22,18,16,13,20,21,12 N=10 20
Ordered data

3. 27,18,29,23,26,19 N=6 24.5

Ordered data

4. 21,16,20,26,27,18,25,24,19,20,24 n=11 21
Ordered data

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 5. 22,17,21,22,19,20,19,17,25 N=9 20
Ordered data

The Mode

It is the value in the set that occurs most often. A set of data can be bimodal. It
is also possible to have a set of data with no mode.

Properties of Mode
1. It is the quick approximation of the average.
2. It is the most unreliable among the three measures of central tendency because
its value is undefined in some observations
3. It exists in both quantitative and qualitative data.

Example 1

The following is the number of problems that Ms. Lyla assigned for
homework on 10 different days. What is the mode?
8, 11, 9, 14, 9, 15, 18, 6, 9, 10

Solution: Ordering the data from least to greatest, we get:

6, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10, 11 14, 15, 18

Answer: The mode is 9.

Example 2

In a crash test, 11 cars were tested to determine what impact speed was required
to obtain minimal bumper damage. Find the mode of the speeds given in miles per
hour below.
24, 15, 18, 20, 18, 22, 24, 26, 18, 26, 24. The mode = 24 and 18

Your solution here

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 Example 3
Find the modal grade point average (GPA) of Juan, presented in a frequency
table below.

Table 3a: Grade in 4 subjects

Subject Grade Unit

Statistics 4.0 3
English 2.0 3
Physics 1.5 5
P.E. 1.0 2

The answer here

The mode is Physics = 1.5 because it has the highest unit

THINGS TO
Data
Measure of Central Location

 Quantitative data, interval or ratio

MEAN scale that is normally distributed

 Ordinal data
 Quantitative data, interval or ratio
MEDIAN
scale that is skewed

 Qualitative data (Nominal, Ordinal)

MODE

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 Please answer

ACTIVITY 3
Measure of Central Location

WE can do it!

The instruction for the basic commands in Excel is in the next page

 How to compute the Mean, median and the mode using excel

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BASIC COMMAND IN EXCEL (CENTRAL LOCATION)

1. MEAN
=AVERAGE(highlight the data), then ENTER

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 2. MEDIAN
=MEDIAN(highlight the data), then ENTER

The Median is 71

3.MODE
=MODE(highlight the data), then ENTER

9 |Measure of central tendency Lynn M. Remo2020