In a community survey on haemoglobin levels, the data are highly skewed due to a few severely anaemic individuals. Which measure of central tendency best represents the typical haemoglobin level of this population?
- A Median ✓
- B Mean
- C Mode
- D Standard deviation
Correct answer: A. Median
Explanation
The median is the preferred measure of central tendency for skewed distributions because it is not influenced by extreme values (outliers). The mean is pulled toward the tail in a skewed dataset, making it a poor representative value. Standard deviation is a measure of dispersion, not central tendency.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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