A study finds the median family income in a district to be Rs 18,000/month while the mean is Rs 32,000/month. The most appropriate interpretation is:
- A The distribution is negatively skewed and median overestimates central tendency
- B The distribution is symmetric and both measures are equally valid
- C The distribution is positively skewed and median better represents central tendency ✓
- D The distribution is bimodal and neither measure is valid
Correct answer: C. The distribution is positively skewed and median better represents central tendency
Explanation
When mean > median, the distribution is positively (right) skewed, indicating a minority of high-income households pulling the mean upward. In skewed distributions, the median is a more robust measure of central tendency as it is not influenced by extreme values. Negative skew would show mean < median. A symmetric distribution would have mean ≈ median.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
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