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Handling data: averages, range and percentages
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Psychology papers include calculations, all using maths you met at KS3. This lesson recaps the most common ones.
Mean, median and mode
Mean: add up all the scores and divide by how many there are.
Median: put the scores in order and take the middle one (with two middle scores, take the mean of them).
Mode: the most common score.
The mean uses every score but can be pulled by one extreme score; the median is not affected by extreme scores.
Median: put the scores in order and take the middle one (with two middle scores, take the mean of them).
Mode: the most common score.
The mean uses every score but can be pulled by one extreme score; the median is not affected by extreme scores.
Range
The range shows how spread out the scores are.
Range = highest score - lowest score.
A small range means people scored similarly; a large range means scores were very different.
Range = highest score - lowest score.
A small range means people scored similarly; a large range means scores were very different.
Percentages
Percentage = part ÷ whole × 100.
Example: 18 out of 24 participants helped: 18 ÷ 24 × 100 = 75%.
To find a percentage of a number, turn it into a decimal and multiply: 35% of 40 = 0.35 × 40 = 14.
Example: 18 out of 24 participants helped: 18 ÷ 24 × 100 = 75%.
To find a percentage of a number, turn it into a decimal and multiply: 35% of 40 = 0.35 × 40 = 14.
Using the table, find the mean number of words recalled.
- Add the scores: 8 + 12 + 10 + 12 + 13 = 55.
- Divide by the number of participants: 55 ÷ 5.
Answer: 11 words
Mean: add and divide. Median: middle score in order. Mode: most common. Range: highest minus lowest. Percentage: part ÷ whole × 100. Show your working in the exam.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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