When is the median the best measure of central tendency?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the circumstances under which the median is the most appropriate measure of central tendency to use, potentially seeking information on its advantages over the mean and mode in certain data distributions.
Answer
When the distribution is not symmetrical or has outliers.
The final answer is when the distribution is not symmetrical (skewed) or contains outliers.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is when the distribution is not symmetrical (skewed) or contains outliers.
More Information
The median is typically used instead of the mean in situations where data is either skewed or contains outliers. These conditions can distort the mean, making the median a more accurate representation of central tendency.
Tips
A common mistake is using the mean to measure central tendency in skewed distributions, which can lead to misleading results due to the influence of outliers.
Sources
- FAQs on Measures of Central Tendency - Mean, Mode and Median - statistics.laerd.com
- What's the best measure of central tendency to use? - Scribbr - scribbr.com
- Mean, Mode and Median - Measures of Central Tendency - statistics.laerd.com
