Measures of Dispersion

Measures of Dispersion allow description, analysis

and comparison of the way values spread about a
central value

They are divided into:

1. Measures of Dispersion in relation to Median

2. Measures of Dispersion in relation to Mean
 1. Measures of Dispersion in relation to
Median
•As we can recall, median divide data set into
two equal parts

•We can study the extent to which values

disperse from the median by calculating:

i. the Range
ii. Interquartile range and
iii. Quartile deviation
 i. The Range
Is the difference between the smallest and the largest values

i.e. Range = Largest value – Smallest value

Disadvantage of Range: It is highly affected by extreme

value(s)

To minimize this effect we use interquartile and quartile

values
 ii. Interquartile Range
How to calculate the interquartile range?

(a) Arrange the data in descending order

(b) Divide the data set into 4 parts (quartiles) with the same
number of values

(c) Identify the upper and lower quartile:

Upper quartile is obtained by finding the mid-point btn the lowest value
of the upper part of the data set and the highest value of the next part
Lower quartile is obtained by finding the mid-point btn the highest value
of the lower part of the data set and the lowest value of the next part

(d) Interquartile Range is the different btn upper and lower quartiles.
i.e. Interquartile Range = Upper Quartile – Lower Quartile
iii. Quartile Deviation
Example

Table: 3 Annual Rainfall for Same District from 2005 to 2016

Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Rainfall 265.3 1019.2 414.3 662.8 382.7 512.9 619.7 438.9 560.7 498.2 473.1 626.7
(mm)
Source: Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) (2017)

i. Calculate the Range

ii. Calculate the Interquartile Range
iii. Calculate the Quartile Deviation
iv. Comments on usefulness of each index
*Remember to arrange the values in descending order
i.e.
1019.2, 662.8, 626.7, 619.7, 560.9, 512.9, 498.2, 473.1,
438.9, 414.3, 382.7, 265.3

i. Range:

Range = Largest value – Smallest value

Range = 1019.2 – 265.3

Range = 753.9
ii. Interquartile Range
1019.2, 662.8, 626.7/ 619.7, 560.9, 512.9/ 498.2, 473.1,
438.9/ 414.3, 382.7, 265.3

• Upper Quartile: 626.7 + 619.7/2 = 623.2

• Lower Quartile: 414.3 + 438.9/2 = 426.6

Equation:

Interquartile Range = Upper Quartile – Lower Quartile

Interquartile Range = 623.2 – 426.6

Interquartile Range = 196.6

iii. Quartile Deviation
Equation:

From the above calculation:

• Upper Quartile = 623.2
• Lower Quartile = 426.6

So Quartile Deviation = 623.2 – 426.6/2

Quartile Deviation = 98.3

iv. Comments on usefulness of each index

 2. Measures of Dispersion in relation to
Mean

These include,

i. Mean Deviation
ii. Variance and
iii. Standard Deviation
 i. Mean Deviation
• Is an index which provide average amount by which
individual values deviate from the mean

• The index is computed using the following equation:

Where: = Absolute difference btn each value

and the mean (irrespective of sign (-or+))

= Summation notation

n = Number of values
Example:
Calculate the Mean Deviation of the data on Table 1
Month Number of Vehicles
January 215
February 431
March 690
April 745
May 419
June 226
July 338
August 642
September 169
October 912
November 91
December 402
• The mean for this data set is 440
• Tabulate your work as follows (Remember to ignore - &+ signs)
X
215 440 225 Now use the equation
431 440 9
690 440 250
745 440 305
419 440 21
226 440 214
338 440 102 Mean deviation = 2458/12
642 440 202
169 440 271
912 440 472
91 440 349 Mean deviation = 204.8
402 440 38
2458
 ii. Variance

• Is the average of the squares of the deviations from the

mean

• It is computed using the formula:

Where (Sigma Squared) = Variance

= Absolute deviation from mean

Example: Calculate Variance of the following data set
8, 6, 3, 7, 2, 8, 1, 4, 6, 5
•Tabulate as:
X Using the Equation
8 3 9
6 1 1
3 -2 4
7 2 4
2 -3 9 Variance = 54/10
8 3 9 Variance = 5.4
1 -4 16
4 -1 1
6 1 1
Weakness of Mean deviation &
5 0 0 and Variance is that they do not
= 50 =
= 54 I indicate +ve and –ve direction of
the deviation.
=5
iii. Standard Deviation

•For individual data, it is calculated using the Equation

Procedures:
1.Find the mean
2.Calculate deviation of each value from the mean
3.Square the differences
4.Sum all the squares and divide by number of cases (n)
5.Take the square root of the variance
Example: Use the following data to calculate Standard
deviation; 8, 6, 3, 7, 2, 8, 1, 4, 6, 5

Values (X) Equation

8 3 9
6 1 1
3 -2 4
7 2 4
2 -3 9 SD = √54/10
8 3 9 SD = √5.4
1 -4 16
SD = 2.3
4 -1 1
6 1 1
5 0 0 Note: Standard Deviation =
= 50 =
= 54 the square root of the variance

=5
Exercise

Write short notes on each of the measures of

dispersion discussed.