On Fri, 02 Nov 2001 12:44:12 -0500 Rick Adams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Er, Maryanne, > > If the mean is 1 and the median is 0, doesn't that mean that a > substantial number of researchers are publishing _negative_ numbers of > papers each year? > > Do those "anti-papers" include retractions??? ;-) > > Rick > As part of my methods class, I have my students do simple surveys. One includes the pair of questions, Do you smoke [Y/N]? How many cigarettes did you smoke (over some specified time period)? Usually the answer to the second question produces a median of 0 and a mean of 1.2 (or so). My question to the students is to explain which is the better measure to use, and to explain why. This often produces an interesting discussion. Ken ---------------------- Kenneth M. Steele, Ph.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dept. of Psychology Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 USA --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
