Module 3

Measures of Location or Position

Learning Outcomes:
a. Calculate various measures of location
b. Interpret various computed measures of location

Measures of Position
A. Quartile
- It is a score distribution where score point is divided into four (4) equal parts.

Steps in how to get the Quartile of a set of data (Ungrouped)

1. Arrange the scores from lowest to highest
2. Solve for the mean using the formula:

[ ( )]
nth score
k k
Qk = n+ 1−
4 4
Where:
Qk = is the indicated quartile
k = 1, 2, 3
n = number of cases
3. Interpret the quartile value.

Example:
Using the data 6, 8, 11, 5, 6, 2; Find Q 2 and Q 3. (Q 2 is done for you. You solve for Q 3)
Step1: 2, 5, 6, 6, 8, 11
Step 2:

[ ( )]
nth score
k k
Q k = n+ 1−
4 4

[ ( )]
nth score
2 2
Q 2= 6 + 1−
4 4

[ ( )]
nth score
4−2
Q 2= 3+
4

[ ( )]
nthscore
2
Q 2= 3+
4

[( )]
nthscore
14
Q 2=
4

Q2=3.5 th score

The value of Q 2 lies within the 3rd and 4th scores. That is, the sum of the 3rd score and 50% of the difference
between the 4th and 3rd scores.
 2 5 6 6 8 11
Q2 = 3rd score + 0.5 (4th score – 3rd score)

Q2 = 6 + 0.5 (6-6)

Q2 = 6 + 0.5 (0)

Q2 = 6 + 0

Q 2= 6 Therefore, 50% of the scores in the distribution are less than 6.

Grouped data for Quartile

( )
kn
−cfp
4
Qk =L bk + c.i
f qk

Where:
Qk = is the indicated quartile
k = 1, 2, 3
n = number of cases
Lbk = Lower boundary of the quartile class
Cfp = cumulative frequency before the median class if the scores are arranged from highest to lowest.
f qk = frequency of quartile class
c.i =size of the class interval

Steps in how to get the Quartile of a set of data (Grouped)

1. Complete the frequency table for cf.
2. Determine if the data is arranged in ascending or descending order.
kn
3. Get of the scores in the distribution so that you can easily identify quartile class where k denotes 1,2 or 3 and n
4
denotes the number of cases.
4. Determine Lbk , cfp, f qk , and c.i.
5. Solve the quartile using the formula
6. Interpret the quartile value.
Example:
Scores of 30 students in an English test consist of 60 items and they are tabulated below. Find the value of Q2.
Step 1: Solve for the Quartile Class
Since we are looking for Q2 and there are 30 students, therefore k = 2 and n = 30. Now we can find the Quartile Class using
the formula kn/4.
Quartile Class = kn/4 = [(2)(30)]/4 = 15
To determine the Quartile Class, use the less than cumulative frequency (<cf). Identify the value closest to, but not less than,
15 in the less than cumulative frequency. If an exact match is absent, select the nearest value greater than 15.

f <cf
30 – 34 2 30
25 – 29 8 28
20 – 24 14 20 Quartile Class
15 – 19 4 6
 10 – 14 2 2
n = 30

Step 2: Descending
Step 3:

kn ( 2 ) (30 ) 60
= = =15 Quartile Class: 20 – 24
4 4 4
Step 4: Lbk = 19.5 cfp = 6 , f qk = 14 c.i. = 5

Step 5: Step 6:

( )
kn
−cfp
4 Therefore, 50% of the scores in the
Qk =L bk + c.i
f qk

Q 2=19.5+( 15−6
14 )
5 distribution are less than 22.71

Q =19.5+ (
14 )
15−6
2 5

Q2=22.71
B. Decile
- It is a score distribution where score point is divided into ten (10) equal parts.

Steps in how to get the Decile of a set of data (Ungrouped)

1. Arrange the scores from lowest to highest
2. Solve for the mean using the formula:

[ ( )]
nth score
k k
Dk = n+ 1−
10 10
Where:
Dk = is the indicated decile
k = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
n = number of cases
3. Interpret the decile value.

Example:
Using the data 6, 8, 11, 5, 6, 2; Find D 2 and D 8 . ( D 2 is done for you. You solve for D 8 )
Step1: 2, 5, 6, 6, 8, 11
Step 2:

[ )]
nth score

D 2=
k
10
n+ 1−
k
10 (
[ )]
nth score

D 2=
2
10
6+ 1−
2
10 (
[ )]
nth score

D 2= 1.2+
10−2
10 (
[ ( )]
nth score
8
D 2= 1.2+
4
nth score
D2=[ 1.2+ ( 2 ) ]
D2=3.2 th score
 The value of D 2 lies within the 3rd and 4th scores. That is, the sum of the 3rd score and 20% of
the difference between the 4th and 3rd scores.
2 5 6 6 8 11
D2 = 3rd score + 0.2 (4th score – 3rd score)

D2 = 6 + 0.2 (6-6)

D2 = 6 + 0.2 (0)

D2 = 6 + 0 Step 3:

D 2= 6 Therefore, 20% of the scores in the distribution are less than 6.

Grouped data for Decile

( )
kn
−cfp
10
Dk = Lbk + c .i
f dk

Where:
Dk = is the indicated decile
k = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
n = number of cases
Lbk = Lower boundary of the decile class
cfp = cumulative frequency before the median class if the scores are arranged from
highest to lowest.
f dk = frequency of decile class
c.i =size of the class interval

Steps in how to get the Quartile of a set of data (Grouped)

1. Complete the frequency table for cf.
2. Determine if the data is arranged ascendingly or descendingly.
kn
3. Get of the scores in the distribution so that you can easily identify decile class where k denotes
10
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, or 9 and n denotes the number of cases.
4. Determine Lbk , cfp, f dk , and c.i.
5. Solve the decile using the formula
6. Interpret the decile value.

Example:
Scores of 30 students in an English test consist of 60 items and they are tabulated below. Find the
value of D3 and D9. (D3 is done for you. Solve for D9 as your exercise)
Step 1:

f cf
30 – 34 2 30
25 – 29 4 28
20 – 24 14 20 Decile Class
15 – 19 4 6
10 – 14 2 2
n = 30

Step 2: Descendingly

Step 3:

kn ( 3 )( 30 ) 90
= = =9 Decile Class: 20 – 24
10 10 10

Step 4: Lbk = 19.5 cfp = 6 f dk = 14 c.i. = 5

Step 5: Step 6:

( )
kn
−cfp
4 Therefore 30% of the scores in the
Dk = Lbk + c.i
f dk

D 3=19.5+( 9−6
14 )
5 distribution are less than 20.57

D =19.5+ ( )5
3
3
14
D3=20.57
 C. Percentile
- It is a score distribution where score point is divided into hundred (100) equal parts.

Steps in how to get the Percentile of a set of data (Ungrouped)

1. Arrange the scores from lowest to highest
2. Solve for the mean using the formula:

[ )]
nth score

Pk =
k
100 (
n+ 1−
k
100
Where:
Pk = is the indicated percentile
k = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 … 99
n = number of cases
3. Interpret the percentile value.

Example:
Using the data 6, 8, 11, 5, 6, 2; Find P2 and P58. ( P2 is done for you. You solve for P58)
Step1: 2, 5, 6, 6, 8, 11
Step 2:

[ ( )]
nth score
k k
P 2= n+ 1−
100 100

[ ( )]
nth score
2 2
P 2= 6+ 1−
100 100

[ ( )]
nth score
100−2
P2= 0.12+
100

[ ( )]
nthscore
98
P2= 0.12+
100
nth score
P2=[ 0.12+ ( 0.98 ) ]
P2=1.1 th score
The value of P2 lies within the 1st and 2nd scores. That is, the sum of the 1st score and 10% of the difference
between the 2nd and 1st scores.
2 5 6 6 8 11
P2 = 1st score + 0.1 (2nd score – 1st score)

P2 = 2 + 0.1 (5 – 2)

P2 = 2 + 0.1 (3)

P2 = 2 + 0.3 Step 3:

P2= 2.3 Therefore, 2% of the scores in the distribution are less than 2.3.

Grouped data for Percentile

( )
kn
−cfp
100
Pk =L bk + c .i
f pk

Where:
Pk = is the indicated percentile
k = 1, 2, 3 … 99
n = number of cases
Lbk = Lower boundary of the percentile class
cfp = cumulative frequency before the median class if the scores are arranged from
highest to lowest.
f pk = frequency of percentile class
c.i =size of the class interval

Steps in how to get the Percentile of a set of data (Grouped)

1. Complete the frequency table for cf.
2. Determine if the data is arranged ascendingly or descendingly.
kn
3. Get of the scores in the distribution so that you can easily identify quartile class where k denotes
100
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, 9 … 99 and n denotes the number of cases.
4. Determine Lbk , cfp, f pk , and c.i.
5. Solve the percentile using the formula
6. Interpret the percentile value.
Example:
Scores of 30 students in an English test consist of 60 items and they are tabulated below. Find the value of
P16 and P64. (P16 is done for you. Solve for P64 as your exercise)
 Step 1:

f cf
30 – 34 2 30
25 – 29 4 28
20 – 24 14 20
15 – 19 4 6 Percentile Class
10 – 14 2 2
n = 30

Step 2: Descending

Step 3:

kn ( 16 )( 30 ) 480
= = =4.8 Quartile Class: 15 – 19
100 100 100

Step 4: Lbk = 14.5 cfp = 2 f pk = 4 c.i. = 5

Step 5: Step 6:

( )
kn
−cfp
100 Therefore 16% of the scores in the
Pk =L bk + c .i
f pk

P16=14.5+( 4.8−2
4 )
5 distribution are less than 18

P =14.5+ (
4 )
2.8
16 5

P16=18

Main Task:

Find and interpret the Q3, D8, and P78 of the following data. Show your solutions:
A. (Ungrouped data)
 5, 7, 7, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
B. Grouped data
f cf
5–8 4
9 – 12 9
13 – 16 6
17 – 20 6
21 - 24 5
n = 30