2. When we are dealing with nominal data, we typically prefer to use the mode as the preferred measure of center. Why are we unable to use the mean as the measure of center for nominal data?

MATLAB: An Introduction with Applications
6th Edition
ISBN:9781119256830
Author:Amos Gilat
Publisher:Amos Gilat
Chapter1: Starting With Matlab
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1P
icon
Related questions
Topic Video
Question

Number 2 

2. When we are dealing with nominal data, we typically prefer to use the mode as the preferred measure of center. Why are we
unable to use the mean as the measure of center for nominal data?
Transcribed Image Text:2. When we are dealing with nominal data, we typically prefer to use the mode as the preferred measure of center. Why are we unable to use the mean as the measure of center for nominal data?
Expert Solution
Step 1

Mode is the only measure of central tendency that is used when dealing with nominal data.

Nominal variable is a variable in which the data values are divided into categories. 

For example, if we want to categorise male and female respondents, we can use numbers 1 and 2 to represent them. That is, 1 for male and 2 for female. However, the values 1 and 2 in this case serve only as labels. They do not represent any meaningful order or carry any mathematical meaning.

Calculating mean of all 1's and 2's will not give us any mathematical meaning. Since, they are simply used as labels for male and female.

 

trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Discrete Probability Distributions
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, statistics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Recommended textbooks for you
MATLAB: An Introduction with Applications
MATLAB: An Introduction with Applications
Statistics
ISBN:
9781119256830
Author:
Amos Gilat
Publisher:
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Probability and Statistics for Engineering and th…
Probability and Statistics for Engineering and th…
Statistics
ISBN:
9781305251809
Author:
Jay L. Devore
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Statistics for The Behavioral Sciences (MindTap C…
Statistics for The Behavioral Sciences (MindTap C…
Statistics
ISBN:
9781305504912
Author:
Frederick J Gravetter, Larry B. Wallnau
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World (7th E…
Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World (7th E…
Statistics
ISBN:
9780134683416
Author:
Ron Larson, Betsy Farber
Publisher:
PEARSON
The Basic Practice of Statistics
The Basic Practice of Statistics
Statistics
ISBN:
9781319042578
Author:
David S. Moore, William I. Notz, Michael A. Fligner
Publisher:
W. H. Freeman
Introduction to the Practice of Statistics
Introduction to the Practice of Statistics
Statistics
ISBN:
9781319013387
Author:
David S. Moore, George P. McCabe, Bruce A. Craig
Publisher:
W. H. Freeman