A professor is interested in the overall pattern of the scores from an exam he recently gave. Which of the following would be most useful to him?
A) the mean exam score
B) the frequency distribution of the exam scores
C) the range of the exam scores
D) the variance of the exam scores

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The frequency distribution of the exam scores would be the most useful for understanding the overall pattern of scores. This would show the number of students who received each score, providing insight into the distribution of scores and potentially identifying any outliers or clusters. The mean exam score would provide a general idea of the average performance, but would not provide enough detail into the patterning of scores. The range of the exam scores would only provide information on the spread between the highest and lowest scores, and the variance of the exam scores would provide information on the variability of scores but may not be as useful in identifying the overall pattern.

A Professor Is Interested in the Overall Pattern of the Scores