Chapter 3

Descriptive Measures
Measures of Central Tendency

Dr. Nadeem Shaukat

 Comparing the Mean, Median, and Mode

 In a perfectly symmetrical distribution (such

as the case of bell-shaped distribution), the
mean, median, and mode are identical.
 In an asymmetrical or skewed distribution,
these three measures will differ
The data shown in Figure is approximately normal
and symmetrical with a mean of 50.88 and a median
of 51.02; the most common range is 50.00–54.99
(37 cases), followed by 45.00–49.99 (34 cases). In
this distribution, the mean and median are very close
to each other, and the two most common ranges also
cluster around the mean.
Symmetric Data
The data in Figure is right skewed; the mean is 58.18, and the
median is 56.91; a mean higher than a median is common for
right-skewed data because the extreme higher values pull the
mean up but do not have the same effect on the median. The
modal range is 45.00–49.99 with 16 cases; however, several
other ranges have 14 cases, making them very close in terms
of frequency to the modal range and making the mode less
useful in describing this data set.
Right Skewed Data
The data in Figure is left skewed; the mean is 44.86, and the
median is 47.43. A mean lower than the median is typical of
left-skewed data because the extreme lower values pull the
mean down, whereas they do not have the same effect on the
median. The skew in this Figure is greater than that in previous
Figure, and this is reflected in the greater difference between the
mean and median in present Fig. as compared to previous Fig.
The modal range for here is 45.00–49.99.
Left Skewed Data
 Graphical Method for
Locating Partition Values
and Mode
 Median and other partition values can be located on the
graph of the cumulative frequency polygon (Ogive
Polygon).
 Suppose we have a graph of the cumulative frequency
polygon as shown in the figure below:
 Estimate Median, Quartiles
from Ogive
For a frequency distribution, the median and quartiles
can be obtained by drawing the ogive of the
distribution. Follow these steps.
Example 2
Example 3: Contd…1
Graphical Location of Mode
The following are the steps to locate mode by graph
 
i. Draw a histogram of the given distribution.
ii. Join the rectangle corner of the highest rectangle
(modal class rectangle) by a straight line to the top
right corner of the preceding rectangle. Similarly the
top left corner of the highest rectangle is joined to the
top left corner of the rectangle on the right.
iii. From the point of intersection of these two diagonal
lines, draw a perpendicular line to the x–axis which
meets at M.
iv. The value of x coordinate of M is the mode.
Example
Merits of Mode:
 It is comparatively easy to understand.
 It can be found graphically.
 It is easy to locate in some cases by inspection.
 It is not affected by extreme values.
 It is the simplest descriptive measure of average.
 Demerits of Mode:
 

 It is not suitable for further mathematical treatment.

 It is an unstable measure as it is affected more by sampling
fluctuations.
 Mode for the series with unequal class intervals cannot be
calculated.
 In a bimodal distribution, there are two modal classes and it is
difficult to determine the values of the mode.