The difference between the mean and the median (mean 32, median 35) indicates:

The difference between the mean and the median (mean 32, median 35) indicates:

• A. the value of standard deviation score
• B. the value of the Z score
• C. that the distribution is skewed
• D. that the two measures should be average

Answer: (C)

When the mean and median differ, it signals that the data are not symmetrically distributed. The mean reflects every value and is sensitive to extreme scores, while the median represents the middle value and is more resistant to outliers. Here, the mean is lower than the median (32 vs. 35), which means lower scores are pulling the average down. This pattern indicates a left (negatively) skewed distribution, with a tail toward the lower end of the scale. It tells you about the shape of the distribution, not about dispersion (standard deviation) or a standardized score (Z-score), and it isn’t appropriate to simply average the two measures. The main takeaway is that a difference between mean and median points to skewness, and the direction is given by which is larger.

When the mean and median differ, it signals that the data are not symmetrically distributed. The mean reflects every value and is sensitive to extreme scores, while the median represents the middle value and is more resistant to outliers. Here, the mean is lower than the median (32 vs. 35), which means lower scores are pulling the average down. This pattern indicates a left (negatively) skewed distribution, with a tail toward the lower end of the scale. It tells you about the shape of the distribution, not about dispersion (standard deviation) or a standardized score (Z-score), and it isn’t appropriate to simply average the two measures. The main takeaway is that a difference between mean and median points to skewness, and the direction is given by which is larger.