When a distribution of scores includes a few extreme scores (either extremely high or extremely low)the ____ usually provides the best index of central tendency.
A) average
B) median
C) mean
D) mode

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a distribution has a few extreme scores, the mean (average) can be affected and become unrepresentative of the typical score. Therefore, the median, which is the middle score when a set of scores is arranged from highest to lowest, is generally the best index of central tendency to use in such situations as extreme scores do not affect it.

When a Distribution of Scores Includes a Few Extreme Scores