The _______ is often the preference measure of central tendency if the data are severely skewed
Explanation
The correct answer is B. median.
Explanation:
- Mean: The mean is sensitive to extreme values (outliers) and can be skewed by them, which might not represent the central tendency well if the data is severely skewed.
- Median: The median is the middle value in a data set when arranged in order. It is less affected by outliers and skewed data, making it a more robust measure of central tendency for skewed distributions.
- Mode: The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a data set. It might not always provide a good measure of central tendency, especially if the data is not well-defined in terms of frequency.
- Range: The range measures the spread of the data, not the central tendency.
In cases of severe skewness, the median provides a better measure of central tendency than the mean.