In this case, the Interquartile Range (IQR) would be the best measure of variability to describe the spread of the dataset. The IQR provides information about the middle 50% of the data, which can give a good indication of the variability in the dataset while minimizing the impact of outliers.
Calculating the IQR for this dataset:
1. Arrange the data in ascending order: 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4
2. Find the median (Q2) of the dataset: 2.5
3. Find the median of the lower half of the data (Q1): 2
4. Find the median of the upper half of the data (Q3): 3
5. Calculate the IQR: Q3 - Q1 = 3 - 2 = 1
Therefore, the IQR for this dataset is 1, which indicates that the spread of the data is relatively consistent within the middle 50% of the dataset.
Number of goals scored in one season at Whitmore College soccer games follows: 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4
Which measure of variability—IQR or MAD— best describes the spread of the dataset?
1 answer
1 answer