Measures of Dispersion
Measures of Dispersion
Measures of Dispersion
Dispersion
1
2
Definition
Measures of dispersion indicate the extent to which individual items in
a series are scattered about an average.
The more similar the scores are to each other, the lower the measure of
dispersion will be
The less similar the scores are to each other, the higher the measure of
dispersion will be
In general, the more spread out a distribution is, the larger the measure
of dispersion will be
3
Measures of Dispersion
Which of the distributions
125
of scores has the larger 100
75
dispersion? 50
25
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
125
100
75
50
25
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
4
The range
The semi-interquartile range (SIR)
Variance / standard deviation
5
The Range
The range is defined as the difference between the largest score in the set of
data and the smallest score in the set of data, X L – XS
N is the population.
n is the sample.
9
9
8
6
5
8
6
= 42 = 0 = 12
10
9
8
6
5
8
6
= 42 = 0 = 12
11
Coefficient of Variation
15
Coefficient of Variation
Example: A laboratory technician studied recent instruments made with two
different instruments. The 1st measured the diameter of a ball bearing and
obtained a mean of 4.96 mm with SD of 0.022 mm. the second ball
measured the diameter of a metal rod and obtained a mean of 6.48 mm with
SD of 0.032 mm. which of the two was relatively more precise?
16
Coefficient of Variation
Example: A laboratory technician studied recent instruments made with two
different instruments. The 1st measured the diameter of a ball bearing and
obtained a mean of 4.96 mm with SD of 0.022 mm. the second ball
measured the diameter of a metal rod and obtained a mean of 6.48 mm with
SD of 0.032 mm. which of the two was relatively more precise?