ACTIVITY 5

Measures of Dispersion and Measures of Shape

 Topic 1

MEASURES OF DISPERSION

I. Introduction

When comparing two or more different data sets using measure of central tendency or
averages, same results are obtained. In making complete information about a certain data,
measures of central tendency are not adequate and the comparison between the data becomes
difficult. Therefore, additional information for comparison regarding how the data is dispersed
about the average. This can be accomplished by measuring the dispersion. These measures help
to understand how stretched the given data is.

The goal of measures of dispersion is to help in understanding the distribution of data.

The value of the measure of dispersion increases when the data becomes more diverse. In this
topic, we will learn about the measure of dispersion together with its types, formulas and
examples.

II. Definition of Terms

Measures of Dispersion

Measures of dispersion aims to represent the variability in data. In describing the extent to
which data is scattered, a statistical term called dispersion or scatter is used.

Types of Measures of Dispersion

There are two classifications of measures of dispersion.

I) Absolute Measures of Dispersion

a. Range

b. Standard Deviation

c. Quartile Deviation

II) Relative Measures of Dispersion

a. Coefficient of Range
b. Coefficient of Standard Deviation
c. Coefficient of Quartile Deviation
Absolute Measure of Dispersion

In determining the dispersion of data within an experiment, absolute measures of dispersion

should be used. With regards to the average of the deviations of the observations, these measures
usually represent variations in a data set.

Common Absolute Measures of Dispersion

Range

The difference between the largest and the smallest value in a set of data is called range. In
continuous grouped data the difference between the upper class boundary of the highest class and
lower class boundary of the lowest class is called range.

Standard Deviation

It is a measure of how far away items in a data set are from the mean. The square root of the
variance gives the standard deviation. Thus, the standard deviation also measures the variation of the
data about the mean.

Quartile Deviation

Defined as half of the difference between the third quartile and the first quartile in a given data
set.

Relative Measures of Dispersion

A relative measure of dispersion compares the variability of two or more data that are
independent of the units of measurement. In other word, a relative measure of dispersion expresses the
absolute measure of dispersion relative to the relevant average and multiplied by 100 many times.

Common Relative Measures of Dispersion

Coefficient of Range

It is the ratio of the difference between the highest and lowest value in a data set to the sum of
the highest and lowest value.

Coefficient of Standard Deviation/Variance

The coefficient of variation is the ratio between the standard deviation and the mean. The
higher the coefficient of variation, the higher the standard deviation of a sample relative to the mean.

Coefficient of Quartile Deviation

It is the ration of the difference between the third quartile and the first quartile to the sum of
the third and first quartiles.
III. Formulas and Examples

A. Absolute Measures of Dispersion

Range

Formula: Range = H – S

Where H = Highest Value S = Smallest Value

Example 1: (Ungrouped Data)

The yields (kg per plot) of a cotton variety from five plots are 8, 9, 8, 10 and 11. Find the range.

Solution: H = 11, S = 8.

Range = H – S

= 11- 8 = 3

Example 2: (Grouped Data)

Calculate range from the following distribution.

Size: 60-63 63-66 66-69 69-72 72-75

Number: 5 18 42 27 8

Solution: H= Upper boundary of the highest class = 75 S = Lower boundary of the lowest class = 60

Range = H – S

=75 – 60 = 15

Standard Deviation

Formulas:
Example 1: (Ungrouped Data)

The weights of 5 ear-heads of sorghum are 100, 102,118,124,126 gms. Find the standard
deviation.

Example 2: (Discrete distribution)

The frequency distributions of seed yield of 50 seasamum plants are given below. Find the
standard deviation.
Quartile Deviation

Formula:

Example: (Ungrouped Data)

Calculate quartile deviation and coefficient of quartile deviation for ungrouped data. The marks
obtained by 9 students are given below.

B. Relative Measures of Dispersion

Coefficient of Range

Formula:

Example: (Ungrouped Data)

The marks obtained by 9 students are given below:

Coefficient of Standard Deviation/Variation

Formula:

Example: (Ungrouped Data)

Suppose we have the following dataset:
Dataset: 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 17, 19, 19, 20, 23, 24, 24, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32

First, find the following metrics for this dataset:

Sample mean (x): 19.29

Sample standard deviation (s): 9.25

We can then use these values to calculate the coefficient of variation:

CV = s / x
CV = 9.25 / 19.29
CV = 0.48

Coefficient of Quartile Deviation

Formula:

Example 1: (Ungrouped Data)

Calculate quartile deviation and coefficient of quartile deviation for ungrouped data. The marks
obtained by 9 students are given below.

Example 2: (Grouped Data)

Topic 2
 MEASURES OF SHAPE

I. Introduction

The measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion can describe the distribution but
they are not sufficient to describe the nature of the distribution. For this purpose, two statistical
measures were used to compare the shape to the normal curve called “Skewness” and “Kurtosis”.
Skewness and Kurtosis are the two important characteristics of distribution in statistics.

II. Definition of Terms with Illustrations

Skewness

A statistical number that tells us if a distribution is symmetric or not. A distribution is symmetric

if the right side of the distribution is similar to the left side of the distribution.

 If a distribution is symmetric, then the Skewness value is 0. i.e. If a distribution is Symmetric

(normal distribution): median= mean= mode, (Skewness value is 0)
 If Skewness is greater than 0, then it is called right-skewed or that the right tail is longer than
the left tail.
 If Skewness is less than 0, then it is called left-skewed or that the left tail is longer than the right
tail.

For example, the symmetrical and skewed distributions are shown by curves as:
Kurtosis

A statistical number that tells us if a distribution is taller or shorter than a normal distribution. If
a distribution is similar to the normal distribution, the Kurtosis value is 0. If Kurtosis is greater than 0,
then it has a higher peak compared to the normal distribution. If Kurtosis is less than 0, then it is flatter
than a normal distribution.

Three types of distributions

1. Leptokurtic - Sharply peaked with fat tails, and less variable.

2. Mesokurtic - Medium peaked.
3. Platykurtic - Flattest peak and highly dispersed.
III. Formulas and Examples

Skewness

Formula:

Example:

Calculate the sample kurtosis from the following grouped data.

Kurtosis

Formula:

Example:

Calculate the sample kurtosis from the following grouped data.

References:

Measures of Dispersion. (n.d). cuemath.com https://www.cuemath.com/data/measures-of-

dispersion/?
fbclid=IwAR0rxQLT9oH0O99IsH3lFH8GRYVc5bn17XMqQc48fMvd_uYRDOqF_GRLc-Q

Thakur, A. (n.d). Measures of Dispersion https://protonstalk.com/statistics/measures-of-

dispersion/?fbclid=IwAR0aroA7PBWKFxTY9vZqHQTf3XG0FDRKPfbpyGqdUqS-eFi-
iuct0jkzfd0

Measures of Dispersion – Range, Variance, Standard Deviation-Coefficient of Variation-

Computation of the Above Statistics for raw and grouped data. (n.d).eagri.org
http://eagri.org/eagri50/STAM101/pdf/lec05.pdf

Measures of Dispersion, Moments, Skewness and Kurtosis. (n.d). Chapter 4 PDF

http://www.uop.edu.pk/ocontents/Chapter%204.pdf

Measures of Dispersion. (n.d). 318_Economics_ Eng_Lesson9.pdf

https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/SrSec318NEW/318_Economics_Eng/318_Economics_Eng_Less
on9.pdf