Biostatistics

(PO401)

Lecture 5. Measures of Variability – Part 2

Dr. Reem Amr Assal

Pharmacology and Toxicology Department

Copyright© 2022 - All rights reserved

 Data Presentation
Methods

Measures of Measures of
central tendency Dispersion/Variability
• Mean • Range
• Median • Variance
• Mode • Absolute Deviation
• Average Deviation
• Standard Deviation
• Standard Error
• Coefficient of Variation
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 Mean, Variance, and
Standard Deviation
∑"
Sample Mean (x̄)=
#
!
∑ "$"̄
Sample Variance (s2)=
#$&

!
∑ "$"̄
Sample Standard Deviation (s)=
#$&

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 Coefficient of Variation (CV)
• Measures the relative, rather than the absolute variation.

• Compares the variability of two or more data sets even if the

variables have different units and/or different means.

• Whereas the variance and SD are used as measures of

variation among a sample or a single population.

• The data set with lower CV is more consistent in

performance (has lower relative variability).

• It is expressed as a percentage.

• It indicates the SD as a percent of the mean.

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 Relative Measures of
Dispersion
Coefficient of Variation (CV)
=
Relative Standard Deviation

Is the ratio of the standard deviation (s)

to the mean (x̄) *100

𝑺
For the sample à CV= ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 (no units)
x̄
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 Example
• For the following data set: 4, 6, 5, 6, 3,5,6
Find: 𝑥 𝑥 − 𝑥̄ (𝑥 − 𝑥)̄ 2
A) Mean 4 -1 1
B) Standard Deviation 6 1 1
C) Coefficient of Variation 5 0 0
6 1 1
3 -2 4
5 0 0
6 1 1
∑𝑥= 35 ∑ 𝑥 − 𝑥̄ 2=
8
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 x̄ = ∑𝑥/n = 35/7 = 5
!
∑ "$"̄
Sample Standard Deviation (s)=
#$&

∑ "$"̄ ! &
S= S= S = 1.155
#$& '

𝑺
CV = ̄ ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 1.155/5*100 = 23%
x

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 Example
• Which of the following hospitals has more stable prices
for the services they offer.

Find:
A) Mean
B) Standard Deviation
C) Coefficient of Variation

Price (in EGP K) in 20 22 19 23 16

Hospital A
Price (in EGP K) in 10 20 18 12 15
Hospital B

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Hospital A

x (x-x̄) (x-x̄)2

20 0 0
22 2 4
19 -1 1
23 3 9
16 -4 16
∑𝑿 = 100 ∑(𝐱 −x̄)2=
30

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 x̄ = ∑𝑋 /n = 100/5 = 20
!
∑ "$"̄
Sample Standard DeviaAon (s)=
#$&

∑ "$"̄ !
!" S = 2.74
S= S=
#$&
#

𝑺
CVA = ̄ ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 2.74/20*100 = 13.7%
x

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Hospital B

x (x-x̄) (x-x̄)2

10 -5 25
20 5 25
18 3 9
12 -3 9
15 0 0
∑𝒙 = 75 ∑(𝐱 −x̄)2=
68

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 x̄ = ∑𝑥 /n = 75/5 = 15
!
∑ "$"̄
Sample Standard Deviation (s)=
#$&

∑ "$"̄ !
$% S = 4.12
S= S=
#$&
#
𝑺
CVB = ̄ ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 4.12/15*100 = 27.46%
x

Since CVA < CVB, therefore hospital A has

more stable prices (less variation).
12
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 Standard Error (SE)
• Measures how far the sample mean of the data is likely to
be from the true population mean.

• It can be reduced by increasing the no. of observations

(this decreases the variability among various individual
observations).
()
SE =
#

∑($%$)!
SE =
' ('%()
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 Tests of Validity
• Since biological parameters show high variability in an
experimental setup, the choice of the correct experimental
design helps keep that variability to a minimum.

• The use of measures of central tendency and measures of

dispersion, helps determine whether this variability is
valid (minimized to certain allowable limit) or invalid
(greater than allowable limit ).

• The validity is calculated either in relation to the standard

deviation (SD) or standard error (SE).

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 Tests of Validity
• Valid data set means that we can do further
calculations on that sample.

• However, invalid data set means that we can not

proceed with the calculations based on these data. In
such case, it is important to do further experiments and
broaden the data set.

• The mean value is considered valid if it is:

- at least 10 times the SE (x̄ ≥ 10 SE)

- 2.5 times SD (>2.5 SD)

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 Example
• The following results are obtained from the assay of
epinephrine on the cat blood pressure:

• Can you rely on these data for further calculations?

Rise in blood pressure in mmHg
Standard Test
15 20
25 18
40 22
10 19
30 21

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 Solution
We first find the mean, standard deviation, and
standard error of both the standard and the test.
Standard: x (x-x̄) (x-x̄)2
Mean value of 15 -9 81
Standard = 24
25 1 1
)*+
s= =11.9 40 16 256
,
10 -14 196
-.
SE= √' =5.3 30 6 36
x̄=24 ∑(𝐱 −x̄)2=
570
Therefore, this set of data is invalid since mean (24) <2.5 times the SD (29.75) and <10
times the SE (53).
We can not rely on these data and it is desirable to do more experiments and increase
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number
RA of observations. In doing so, the SD and the SE are decresaed. 17
 Solution (cont.)
Test:
x (x-x̄) (x-x̄)2
Mean value of 20 0 0
Standard = 20
18 -2 4
22 2 4
(+
s= =1.6 19 -1 1
,
21 1 1
-.
SE= √' =0.7 x̄=20 ∑(𝐱 −x̄)2=
10

Therefore, this set of data is valid since mean (20) >2.5 Jmes the SD (4) and >10 Jmes
the SE (7).
We can rely on these data to do further calculaJons.
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