A researcher wants to select a way to measure how values in a research study are dispersed around the mean, and how homogeneous or heterogeneous they are, for a ratio-level variable. The researcher might select which of the following?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Mode
b. Range
c. Frequency distribution
d. Mean
e. Standard deviation
ANS: B, E
Measures of dispersion or variability are measures of individual differences of the members of the population and sample. They indicate how values in a sample are dispersed around the mean. These measures provide information about the data that is not available from measures of central tendency. They indicate how different the scores are—the extent to which individual values deviate from one another. If the individual values are similar, measures of variability are small and the sample is relatively homogeneous in terms of those values. When there are wide variations or differences in the scores, the sample is considered heterogeneous. The heterogeneity of sample scores or values is determined by measures of dispersion or variability. The measures of dispersion most commonly reported in nursing research are range, difference scores, variance, and standard deviation. All are useful for ratio-level data.
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