have a higher score than the mean score for group 2? Explain.
2006-10-12 16:29:59 · 2 answers · asked by grlzsuck 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Yes, it is possible.
The biggest issue is the number of individual scores in each of the groups. The larger the number of scores, the larger the standard deviation and the more likely it is to have at least some scores (which are higher than the mean plus two standard deviations) to be greater than the mean of the second group.
2006-10-12 16:44:04 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 63⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because of the standard deviation (SD). If SD is very big then its possible if the SD is small then it isn't. SD is basically how the individual score is spread around the mean score.
Assume that some people scored say 40 and some scored 160 and others around 100 (i.e. big SD). The average works out to be 100, but you KNOW that there is an individual whose score is above 115 (which is the mena of the other group) i.e. 160.
Now assume that the highest score in group 1 was 112 and the lowest was 88 but most score just around 100. The average still works out to be 100 but the spread around the average is very small.
So it is possible for an INDIVIDUAL to score above a group whose MEAN is lower than the MEAN of other group ONLY when the variation is LARGE.
Its like a girl being taller than average height of a guy. You know that on average girls are shorter than guys, but there are some girls who are particularly tall. Same thing in your example...
Hope this explains it
2006-10-13 10:49:22 · answer #2 · answered by Zed 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋