Central Tendency & Variability

Central Tendency & Variability

For your main post, gather some data (N of 20 or more)

You have two options for data:

Option 1: Revisit the data you used in the last discussion – but only if you had an N of 20+ and an interval level of measurement for that variable! 

Option 2: Pull some new data from the student survey for one variable that is at the interval level of measurement.

• Then, with the data you have collected:
• Calculate all measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and variability (range, sd) for your variable,

Post your results (use the name of your variable as the subject of your post). Use the Table icon (looks like a grid) to make a table in which to show your calculations more organized and clear. To include the formula and numbers you used, you can type them in as best you can or you can get fancy with the “Math Equation” icon (looks like the square-root symbol). (See resources below.)

For your comment posts:

Post at least two comments on someone else’s data – interpret what they calculated, discuss the patterns of central tendency and variability for their variable…

• Have fun with this – don’t overthink the interpretation… Practice what we’re learning in class…

Just put into words what it means to get the mean, median, mode, range, and sd (separate sentences for each) and overall what they tell you (Central tendency: what do they mean? Are they all the same? different? How different? Is there skew? Which statistic is best for central tendency? Variability: what do they mean? Which statistic is best for variability?)