A researcher records the time (in seconds)that participants arrive late for a scheduled research study.Assuming these data are normally distributed,which measure of central tendency is most appropriate to describe these data?
A) mean
B) median
C) mode
D) None; it is inappropriate to describe the central tendency of these data.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mean is the most appropriate measure of central tendency for normally distributed data. It represents the average value of the data and is sensitive to all data points, making it a useful summary statistic for describing the central tendency of the data. Note that the median could also be used if there are outliers or skewed data, but the question specifies that the data are normally distributed. The mode is not as useful because it only represents the most common value, and in a continuous distribution like arrival times, the probability of getting exactly the same value is usually very low.

A Researcher Records the Time (In Seconds)that Participants Arrive Late