1.7.F—Justify the selection of a summary statistic for describing quantitative data

Justify the selection of a summary statistic for describing quantitative data.

• The median and IQR are considered a resistant (or robust) measure of center and measure of variability, respectively, because outliers do not greatly (if at all) affect their values. Because outliers can affect their values greatly, the mean is considered a nonresistant (or non-robust) measure of center, and the range and standard deviation are considered nonresistant (or nonrobust) measures of variability.
• Summary statistics of a quantitative variable may reveal information that can be used to justify claims about the variable in context.