Module 10

1


LESSON 1
Measures of Central Tendency of Ungrouped Data

















As teachers we need to know how performed in the examinations we administer. To be
able to describe how well or poorly they performed in the examination, there is a need to
summarize test scores obtained by our students.

1.1 The Mean
Measures of the central tendency provide a single summary figure that best describes the
central location of an entire distribution of test scores (May et al, 1990). The mean,
however, is the most popular among the measures of central tendency. This is oftentimes
called the arithmetic average.
Use the mean to describe the middle of a set of data that does not have an
outlier.
Learning Objectives: Upon the successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
build understanding about Mean, Median and Mode
learn how to compute for the Mean, Median and Mode
identify which calculating device is the best choice in summarizing test scores
Know some of the techniques of Measures of Central Tendency
Develop their own ability in measuring the performance of their future students










Module 10
2

The sum of a set of data divided by the number of data.
(Do not round your answer unless directed to do so.)
There is only one mean in a set of test scores
It measures stability. It the most stable among other measures of central
tendency because every score contributes to the value of the mean.
Advantages:
Most popular measure in fields such as business, engineering and computer
science.
It is unique - there is only one answer.
Useful when comparing sets of data.
Disadvantage:
Affected by extreme values (outliers)

Mean For Ungrouped Test Scores
When test scores are ungrouped, that is N is 30 or less, mean is computed following the
formula:

Where: M = mean
Sx = sum of test scores
N = total number of test scores or cases

Module 10
3

Let us illustrate the computation of the mean for ungrouped test scores. For instance,
the following scores were obtained by grade VI pupils in the spelling test: 12, 11, 10, 9, 7, 15, 8, 6,
14, 13. What is the mean score of the pupils in the aforementioned spelling test, to compute the
mean, we first have to add the scores (Sx=105) and count the number of scores (N=10). Let us plug
the obtained values into our computational formula.

1.2 The Median
Use the median to describe the middle of a set of data that does have an outlier.
The point that divide the scores in distribution into two equal parts when the
scores are arranged according to magnitude, that is from lowest to highest score
or highest to lowest
The second type of measures of central tendency
Represents the exact middle of the distribution, when the scores are in order
Use when there are extreme scores in the distribution
Advantages:
Extreme values (outliers) do not affect the median as strongly as they do the
mean.

Module 10
4

Useful when comparing sets of data.
It is unique - there is only one answer.
Disadvantages:
Not as popular as mean.
Median for Ungrouped Test Scores
To find the median for the ungrouped test scores, the first thing to do is to arrange the
scores from the highest to lowest. Then get the middlemost score. When the number of test
scores (N) is odd, the middlemost score is the median. On the other hand, when N is even the
average of the two middlemost scores is the median.
Example 1. Find the median of the following test scores:
40 32 37 30 28 33 45
Arranging these scores from highest to lowest, we find
45 40 37 33 32 30 28
and the median is 33.
Example 2. Calculate the median of the following test scores:
15 25 16 31 36 44 40 28
Arranging these scores from highest to lowest, we find
44 40 36 31 28 25 16 15
and the median is
()

Module 10
5

1.3 The Mode
Use the mode when the data is non-numeric or when asked to choose the most popular
item.
Advantages:
Extreme values (outliers) do not affect the mode.
Disadvantages:
Not as popular as mean and median.
Not necessarily unique - may be more than one answer
When no values repeat in the data set, the mode is every value and is useless.
When there is more than one mode, it is difficult to interpret and/or compare.
Measures of Central Tendency it is a single value that is used to identify the center of the
data, it is taught as the typical value in a set of scores. It tends to lie within the center if it is
arranged from lowest to highest or vice versa. There are three measures of central
tendency commonly used; the mean, median and mode.
The median value is the 5
th
score which is 47.Which means that 50% of the scores
fall below 47.
Properties of Median
1. It is not affected by extremes values.
2. It is applied to ordinal level of data.
3. The middle most score in the distribution.
4. Most appropriate when there are extreme scores.

Module 10
6

The Mode
The mode refers to the score or scores that occurred most in the distribution. There
are classification of mode: a)unimodal is a distribution that consist of only one mode.
b)bimodal is the distribution of scores that consist of two modes, c)multimodalis a score
distribution that consist of more than two modes.
Properties of Mode
1. It is the score/s occurred most frequently.
2. Nominal average.
3. It can be used for qualitative and quantitative data.
4. Not affected by extreme values.
5. It may not exist.
Example 1: Find the mode of the scores of students in algebra quiz:
34,36,45,65,34,45,55,61,34,46.
Mode= 34, because it appeared three times. The distribution is called unimodal.
Example 2: Find the mode of the scores of students in algebra quiz:
34,36,45,61,34,45,55,61,34,45.
Mode=34 and 45, because both appeared three times. The distribution is called bimodal.