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Example of Finding the Median
To find the median, scores must first be arranged from lowest to highest. For the set of seven scores , the ordered sequence is . The middle score is , which is the median. If an eighth score of is added, the new ordered set is . The two middle scores are and , so the median is the value halfway between them, which is .
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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Example of Finding the Median
Sensitivity of the Mean to Outliers
What does the median represent in a distribution of scores?
A psychologist is analyzing the number of words recalled by a group of participants in a memory study. Arrange the steps below in the correct order to determine the median value of these recall scores.
A psychologist is evaluating how modifications to a dataset of reaction times (measured in milliseconds) affect the median. Match each potential data change to its specific analytical impact on the median value.
A psychologist studying cognitive test scores finds that most participants score near 50, but one participant scores 0 due to a computer error. The psychologist’s decision to report the median as the representative value is methodologically sound because the median’s focus on the middlemost position prevents this extreme score from distorting the perceived typical performance of the group.
A psychology researcher is designing a set of hypothetical results for a textbook to illustrate how the median remains stable despite extreme outliers. They need to construct a dataset of reaction times (measured in milliseconds) that satisfies two specific design criteria: (1) the median must be exactly , and (2) the mean must be at least to demonstrate a significant positive skew. Which of the following datasets correctly assembles these parameters?
Example of Calculating the Median
For any distribution of scores, the median must always be one of the actual observed scores present in the original dataset.
A psychological researcher is analyzing different sets of participant scores. Match each dataset scenario with the correct rule or property used to identify or describe its median.
A researcher measures the reaction times (in seconds) of six participants completing a cognitive task. The recorded times are: 14, 8, 21, 10, 18, and 12. The median reaction time for this group of participants is _____.
A psychology researcher analyses a set of reaction times and observes that the median is a value that does not equal any of the actual observed scores in the dataset. By analyzing this outcome, the researcher can deduce that the dataset contains a(n) _____ number of scores.
A researcher is determining the most appropriate measure of central tendency to report for a dataset of cognitive processing times. Arrange the steps in the correct order to evaluate the data properties and select the representative metric.
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When finding the median of a dataset, what is the correct procedure if there is an even number of scores?
A researcher is calculating the median for a dataset of four reaction-time scores (in seconds): 0.9, 0.3, 1.2, and 0.6. Arrange the steps in the correct order to determine the median for this set.
A researcher is analyzing the results of a psychological study where participants were asked to solve as many puzzles as possible in 10 minutes. The current data for a small group of five participants is: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Match each proposed modification of this dataset to the resulting median puzzle-solving score.
A researcher is evaluating the central tendency of a dataset containing eight scores: $8, 4, 12, 14, 3, 2, 3, 15$$. The researcher concludes that because the dataset has an even number of scores, there is no single middle value, and therefore the median cannot be determined. This conclusion is a correct evaluation of the procedure for finding the median.
Based on the example provided in the text, match each description of a dataset or score component to its correct numerical value.
In the example provided, the median for the set of seven scores is identified as . Why does the procedure for finding the median change when an eighth score of is added to the dataset?
A psychology researcher studying memory records the number of words correctly recalled by six participants: 5, 12, 3, 10, 1, and 8. After arranging these scores from lowest to highest, the median number of words recalled is _____.
A researcher records five depression scores for a pilot study: . After arranging the scores from lowest to highest, the researcher correctly identifies as the median because it has exactly two scores below it and two scores above it.
A researcher notes that adding a score of to the dataset shifts the median from to . This shift occurs because, with an even number of scores, the median is defined as the _____ of the two middle values.
A graduate student reviews a colleague's claim that the median of the dataset is . Arrange the following steps in the correct order to evaluate whether this claim is accurate.