Measures of Central Tendency

Data Collection and Analysis

On Demand Training

Part of the series

Data Exploration in Psychology

PsycLearn Essentials

September 2024

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In this course, students master the concept of central tendency, a fundamental aspect of statistical analysis. The mean, median, and mode are introduced thoroughly, clearly, and with examples. Students learn to compute and identify these measures, gaining hands-on experience through practical exercises and real-world data sets, and with demonstration and use of the specialized statistical software program called jamovi. This foundational knowledge forms the basis for more advanced statistical analysis.

The course demonstrates the importance of selecting the appropriate measure of central tendency based on a variable’s level of measurement. It then explores the interpretation and understanding of central tendency. Patterns and trends in the relative magnitude of the measures that might not be immediately apparent are explored in detail.

The course also distinguishes among the measures of central tendency in frequency distributions. Students examine how the mean, median, and mode behave in different types of distributions, such as normal, skewed, and bimodal distributions. The course also investigates scenarios where measures might be skewed by outliers and other factors. Through interactive simulations and data analysis projects, students gain a nuanced understanding of how to apply these concepts in practice.

Learning objectives

Compute or identify the mean, median, and mode of a set of data.
Interpret the mean, median, and mode of a set of data.
Identify central tendency in a frequency distribution.
Identify whether the mean, median, or mode is most useful based on the variable’s scale of measurement.
Identify whether the mean, median, or mode is most useful based on the variable’s frequency distribution.

This program does not offer CE credit.