Measures of Central Tendency Assessment of Learning 1

Module 14
Measures of Central Tendency

INTRODUCTION

This module focuses on the important tools needed in describing analyzing and interpreting assessment
results. The topics discussed in this module are measures of central tendency, measures of variation and
measures of skewness. It is very important for every education student and teacher to master this part because
it will be very helpful in describing and analyzing test results accurately for the teacher to make an appropriate
decision about the performance of the learners.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

1. Review the measures of central tendency
1.1 Mean, Median, Mode
1.2 Range
1.3 Standard Deviation
1.4 Measures of Skewness

ACTIVITY

Arrange the following scores of students in their Mathematics quiz.

51, 56, 52, 57, 53, 58, 54, 59, 55, 60, 55

__________________________________________________________________________________________

ANALYSIS

1. What the middlemost score? __________________ 2. What is the difference between the highest and
lowest score? __________________ 3. What is the average if you add the scores? __________________ 4.
What score is repeated on the given set? __________________

ABSTRACTION

Measures of Central Tendency

A measure of central tendency is a single value that attempts to describe a set of data by identifying the
central position within that set of data. As such, measures of central tendency are sometimes called measures
of central location. They are also classed as summary statistics. The mean (often called the average) is most
likely the measure of central tendency that you are most familiar with, but there are others, such as the
median and the mode.
The mean, median and mode are all valid measures of central tendency, but under different conditions,
some measures of central tendency become more appropriate to use than others. In the following sections, we
will look at the mean, mode and median, and learn how to calculate them and under what conditions they are
most appropriate to be used.

Mean- refers to the arithmetic average. To get this, add all the scores and then divide it to the number of
scores.
Median- refers to the centermost score when the scores in the distribution are arranged according to the
magnitude (from highest to lowest score or from lowest to the highest score.
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Measures of Central Tendency Assessment of Learning 1

Mode- refers to the scores that occurs most frequently in the score distribution.

Measure of Variation
Measure of variation is a single value that is used to describe the spread of the scores in the
distribution. The term variation is also known as variability or dispersion.

Range- is the difference between the highest score and the lowest score.
Interpretation: If the range is large, the scores are more dispersed. On the other hand, if the range is small, the
scores are less dispersed or less scattered or homogeneous.
Standard Deviation- refers to the average distance that deviates from the mean value.
Interpretation:
1. If the value of the standard deviation is large, on the average, the scores in the distribution will be far from
the mean. Therefore, the scores are spread out around the mean value. The distribution is also known as
heterogeneous.
2. If the value of the standard deviation is small, on the average, the scores in the distribution will be close to
the mean hence the scores are less dispersed or the scores in the distribution are homogeneous.

Measures of Skewness
Measure of skewness describes the degree of departure of the scores from the symmetry. The
skewness of a score distribution only tells about the performance of the students but not the reasons about
their performance. Skewness coefficient can be solved using the formula:
3 (Ⴟ - X)
Sk=-------------- where X is the mean value and X is the median value.
s
Skewness can be classified according to the skewness coefficient. Below are the classifications of
skewness and the summary of their properties.
Positively Skewed Negatively Skewed Normal Distribution

Sk>0 Sk<0 Sk=0

Skewed to the right this means
that the thin end tail of the
curve goes to the right part of
the
distribution.
Skewed to the left this means The scores are normally
that the thin end tail of the curve distributed.
goes to the left part of the
distribution.

Most of the scores are low hence
most of the students got scores
below the mean value.
Mean value is greater than the
median and the mode values.
Ex. Mean=50, Median=47 and
Mode=43
Ex. Mean=43, Median=47 and
Mode=50
APPLICATION
Most of the scores are high hence It is symmetrical to the mean. The
most of the students got scores end tails of the curve can be
above the mean value. extended indefinitely in both side
and asymptotic to the horizontal
line.
Mean value is less than the median The value of the mean, median and
and the mode values. mode are equal.
Directions: Do the following activities.

1. Teacher Jet conducted a 20-item test in Makabayan and obtained the following scores from the
students: 20, 13, 20, 18, 11, 18, 17, 16, 15, 13, 12

Find the following:

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Measures of Central Tendency Assessment of Learning 1

1. Mean ___________________________
2. Median ___________________________
3. Mode ___________________________
4. Range ___________________________

2. Find the coefficient of skewness of the scores of 30 Grade V pupils in a 45 item test in Mathematics. The
mean is 38.50, median 35.25 and the standard deviation is 2.50. Provide also an interpretation.

EVALUATION

Identify the following:

1. The difference between the highest score and the lowest score. _______________ 2. This refers to the
average distance that deviates from the mean value. _______________ 3. Classification of skewness where
the scores are normally distributed. _______________ 4. The term variation which is also known as
variability or dispersion. _______________ 5. This describes the degree of departure of the scores from the
symmetry. _______________

REFERENCE:

Assessment of Learning 2 Yonardo Gabuyo, et. Al. Rex Bookstore Publishing

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