Summarizing Data: Variability
4 important questions on Summarizing Data: Variability
What can you tell about the measure of variability that we call 'the Range'?
- The Range is the distance between the lowest and highest score.
- In reports the range is always noted together with the minimum and maximum score.
- Although easy and informative, the range is sensitive to outliers.
Consider the following statement: 'Although we cannot really interpret the value of the variance, everything is meaningful in comparison.'
What does this statement mean?
- It means that the variance (in most cases) is not interpretable on its own.
- Functionality of the variance:
- Comparing variances.
- I.e., if the variance of Group A is lower than that of Group B, we know that there is a greater variability in the distribution of scores of Group B.
- Leads to Standard Deviation.
- When you have the variance, you can calculate the standard deviation.
Can you explain what the Standard Deviation (SD) is, the two types we distinguish, and how each type is calculated?
- The Standard Deviation (SD) is the square root of the variance.
- It communicates the average distance from the mean that scores tend to be.
- The SD is used to make statements of the distribution for normally distributed variables.
- 68% of the scores lie within one standard deviation from the mean (i.e., one SD lower AND one SD higher than the mean).
- 95% of the scores lie within two standard deviation from the mean.
- Two types:
- Population standard deviation (see formula).
- Sample Standard Deviation (see formula).
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What is the symbol for standard deviation in sample?
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