Module 9
Measures of Variability
PROF. GENALYN L. CAPELO, PHD
The Range
The range is the simplest measure of variability. It is the difference between
the largest value and the smallest value.
R=H–L
Where R = Range, H = Highest value, L = Lowest value
Test scores of 10, 8, 9, 7, 5, and 3, will give us a range of 7 from 10 – 3 = 7.
|x-x| is the absolute value of the deviation from the mean.
The Average/Mean Deviation
The dispersion of a set of data about the average of these data is the
average deviation or mean deviation.
To compute the average deviation of an ungrouped data, we use the
formula:
where A.D. is the average deviation;
x is the individual score;
x is the mean; and
N is the number of scores.
|x-x| is the absolute value of the deviation from the mean.
Example:
Find the average deviation of the following data: 12, 17, 13, 18, 18, 15, 14, 17, 11
σ 𝑥 12 + 17 + 13 + 18 + 18 + 15 + 14 + 17 + 11
𝑥ҧ = =
𝑁 9
135
𝑥ҧ = = 15
9
|x-𝑥| = |12 − 15| = 3
= |17 − 15| = 2
= |13 − 15| = 2
= |18 − 15| = 3
= |18 − 15| = 3
= |15 − 15| = 0
= |14 − 15| = 1
= |17 − 15| = 2
= |11 − 15| = 4
|x-x| = |12 − 15| = 3
= |17 − 15| = 2
= |13 − 15| = 2
= |18 − 15| = 3
= |18 − 15| = 3
= |15 − 15| = 0
= |14 − 15| = 1
= |17 − 15| = 2
= |11 − 15| = 4
∑|x-x| = 20
σ 𝒙−𝒙ഥ 𝟐𝟎
𝑨. 𝑫. = = = 𝟐. 𝟐
𝑵 𝟗
The Standard Deviation
Compute the standard
deviation of the set of test
scores: {39, 10, 24, 16, 19, 26,
29, 30, 5}.
x I𝑥 − 𝑥Iҧ (𝑥 − 𝑥)ҧ 2
5 17 289
10 12 144
16 6 36
19 3 9
24 2 4
26 4 16
29 7 49
30 8 64
39 17 289
∑(𝑥 − 𝑥)ҧ 2 = 900
Compare the standard deviations of the scores of the three students in their
Mathematics quizzes.
Student A 97, 92, 96, 95, 90
Student B 94, 94, 92, 94, 96
Students C 95, 94, 93, 96, 92
Student A
Step 2. Compare the table below
Step 1. Compute the mean score
x 𝑥 − 𝑥ҧ (𝑥 − 𝑥)ҧ 2
σ𝑥 97+92+96+95+90 97 3 9
𝑥ҧ = = =94 92 -2 4
𝑁 5 96 2 4
95 1 1
90 4 16
Step 3. Compute the standard deviation ∑(x-x)2 = 34
σ(𝑥 − 𝑥)ҧ 2 34
𝑆. 𝐷. = = = 6.8 = 2.6
𝑁 5
Student B
Step 2. Compare the table below
Step 1. Compute the mean score
x 𝑥 − 𝑥ҧ (𝑥 − 𝑥)ҧ 2
σ𝑥 94+94+92+94+96
𝑥ҧ = = =94 94 0 0
𝑁 5 94 0 0
92 -2 4
94 0 0
96 2 4
Step 3. Compute the standard deviation
∑(x-x)2 = 8
σ(𝑥 − 𝑥)ҧ 2 8
𝑆. 𝐷. = = = 1.6 = 1.3
𝑁 5
Student C
Step 1. Compute the mean score
Step 2. Compare the table below
σ𝑥 95+94+93+96+92
𝑥ҧ = = =94 x 𝑥 − 𝑥ҧ (𝑥 − 𝑥)ҧ 2
𝑁 5
95 1 1
94 0 0
93 -1 1
96 2 4
Step 3. Compute the standard deviation
92 -2 4
σ(𝑥 − 𝑥)ҧ 2 10 ∑(x-x)2 = 10
𝑆. 𝐷. = = = 2 = 1.4
𝑁 5
Summary
SD (A) = 2.6
SD (B) = 1.3
SD (C) = 1.4
Smaller
dispersion
of scores
arising
from the
compariso
n often
indicates
more
consistenc
y and
more
reliability.
The Variance
