I wrote:
>> Note that these are _medians_, not "stinking averages".
>> The median is a much more robust statistical metric than the average (mean).
>> ("robust" meaning less sensitive to far-out dots)
Ray E. Harrell replied:
> Cute Chris, real cute. Look up the synonym for median in an English
> dictionary. Statistically right perhaps, but we all know how economists
> and statisticians skew English. This is just another cute example to put
> alongside "productivity."
Okay, time for a bit of Statistics 101.
Consider these salaries of 11 people:
800
1000
1050
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1800
8000
The median is 1300.
The average (mean) is 1886.
Now, tell me Ray, which of these 2 numbers is more representative of
the 11 people's salaries ?
Chris
