What do you expect the median of a factor to be? Are you sure you don't want the *mode* (most common value)? If you want the median numeric code of ordered factors, maybe use `as.numeric` first. Consider what you think should happen if this median is not an integer.
HTH > -----Original Message----- > From: Christoph Bier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 30 October 2003 21:35 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [R] Weird problem with median on a factor > > > Security Warning: > If you are not sure an attachment is safe to open please contact > Andy on x234. There are 0 attachments with this message. > ________________________________________________________________ > > Hi all, > > I hope this isn't a naive newbie question again. Here you can > see column 264 of > a data frame containing data of the same interview in May and > September. Column > 264 contains the answers of 49 persons to a question in May. > > > fbhint.spss1[,264] > [1] teils/teils sehr wichtig <NA> <NA> sehr wichtig > [6] sehr wichtig sehr wichtig sehr wichtig <NA> <NA> > [11] <NA> <NA> wichtig <NA> <NA> > [16] sehr wichtig <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> > [21] <NA> <NA> <NA> wichtig <NA> > [26] <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> > [31] <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> teils/teils > [36] sehr wichtig <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> > [41] wichtig <NA> sehr wichtig <NA> <NA> > [46] sehr wichtig wichtig <NA> <NA> > Levels: sehr wichtig wichtig teils/teils unwichtig ganz unwichtig > > Column 566 contains the answers from the same persons to the > same question in > September. > > > fbhint.spss1[,566] > [1] <NA> <NA> <NA> wichtig wichtig > [6] sehr wichtig sehr wichtig wichtig wichtig <NA> > [11] <NA> <NA> sehr wichtig sehr wichtig sehr wichtig > [16] sehr wichtig <NA> unwichtig wichtig wichtig > [21] <NA> <NA> teils/teils teils/teils <NA> > [26] unwichtig <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> > [31] wichtig sehr wichtig sehr wichtig <NA> unwichtig > [36] sehr wichtig <NA> <NA> teils/teils wichtig > [41] wichtig wichtig <NA> <NA> wichtig > [46] <NA> sehr wichtig teils/teils <NA> > Levels: sehr wichtig wichtig teils/teils unwichtig ganz unwichtig > > The following works: > > > median(fbhint.spss1[,264], na.rm=T) > [1] sehr wichtig > Levels: sehr wichtig wichtig teils/teils unwichtig ganz unwichtig > > ... but here it doesn't: > > > median(fbhint.spss1[,566], na.rm=T) > Error in Summary.factor(..., na.rm = na.rm) : > "sum" not meaningful for factors > > I don't have any ideas why! Can somebody give me a hint? > > TIA > > Best regards, > > Christoph > > ______________________________________________ > [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list > https://www.stat.math.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > Simon Fear Senior Statistician Syne qua non Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 1379 644449 Fax: +44 (0) 1379 644445 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: http://www.synequanon.com Number of attachments included with this message: 0 This message (and any associated files) is confidential and\...{{dropped}} ______________________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list https://www.stat.math.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
