When is it appropriate to use the mode as a measure of central tendency?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the appropriate contexts in which the mode is used as a measure of central tendency, suggesting a need to understand the characteristics of the mode relative to other measures like mean and median.
Answer
The mode is best for nominal data.
The mode is best used as a measure of central tendency when dealing with nominal data, as it is the only appropriate measure for such data types.
Answer for screen readers
The mode is best used as a measure of central tendency when dealing with nominal data, as it is the only appropriate measure for such data types.
More Information
The mode is particularly useful when dealing with categorical data where mean and median cannot be defined, for example, finding the most popular color or brand.
Tips
A common mistake is attempting to use the mode for interval or ratio data where other measures like mean or median would be more informative.
Sources
- Mean, Mode and Median - Measures of Central Tendency - statistics.laerd.com
- When to use each measure of Central Tendency - Lumen - courses.lumenlearning.com
- Central Tendency | Understanding the Mean, Median & Mode - Scribbr - scribbr.com
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