Page 141 - DMGT404 RESEARCH_METHODOLOGY

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Unit 8: Descriptive Statistics

Unit 8: Descriptive Statistics Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
8.1 Measure of Central Tendency
8.2 Various Measures of Average

8.2.1 Arithmetic Mean
8.2.2 Weighted Arithmetic Mean
8.2.3 Median
8.2.4 Other Partition or Positional Measures

8.2.5 Mode
8.2.6 Relation between Mean, Median and Mode
8.3 Measures of Dispersion
8.4 Summary
8.5 Keywords
8.6 Review Questions

8.7 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
 Recognize the Meaning and Characteristics various measures of Central Tendency
 Define the Arithmetic Mean
 Describe the Median

 State the impression of Mode
 Explain the Measures of dispersion
Introduction

Let’s take a look at the most basic form of statistics, known as descriptive statistics. This branch
of statistics lays the foundation for all statistical knowledge. Descriptive Statistics are used to
describe the basic features of the data gathered from an experimental study in various ways. A
descriptive statistics is distinguished from inductive statistics. They provide simple summaries
about the sample and the measures. Together with simple graphics analysis, they form the basis
of virtually every quantitative analysis of data. It is necessary to be familiar with primary
methods of describing data in order to understand phenomena and make intelligent decisions.
There may be two objectives for formulating a summary statistic: (1) to choose a statistic that
shows how different units seem similar. Statistical textbooks call one solution to this objective,
a measure of central tendency and (2) to choose another statistic that shows how they differ. This
kind of statistic is often called measure dispersion.

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