Short Answer

1. Name and define three central tendency measures.
Ans: The mean is the average, which is the sum of the scores divided by the number of scores. The mode is the most frequent score in a distribution. Median is the middle score of the distribution.
Learning Objective: 4-2: How are the mean, median, and mode used as measures of central tendency?
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Central Tendency in Distributions

2. When is a mean the best measure of central tendency?
Ans: A mean is the best measure of central tendency when the distribution of scores is symmetrical and when the scores are at least interval scale.
Learning Objective: 4-3: How do the mean, median, and mode compare for different distributions?
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Which Measure of Central Tendency Should I Use?