Do gender difference exist in general attitudes? Use of mode, median and mean analyses to analyse data

Step 1: Design your questionnaire Choose a topic that interests you. I have chosen climate change. If you cant think of anything try opening a random page in a newspaper or do a google ‘I’m feeling lucky’ search. Write at least 5 statements on that topic. Here are my examples: Climate change is really important Climate change will directly affect me in the future Climate change requires us to make changes in our lives I feel guilty about the state of the planet Climate change is natural and we can’t change it

Step 1: Design your questionnaire Insert a likert scale for each statement. This will help respondents to easily select the answer that reflects their opinion.

Step 2: Data collection and collation Identify sample We are looking at differences in opinion between the genders so we have to ask one group of males and one group of females. Aim for at least five of each. However the more the better! Conduct research Go out and collect the data! Collate the data

Step 3: Analysis – the Mode The mode is simply the numerical value that occurs the most often Useful for identifying the most common opinion or the view held by the most people

Step 3: Analysis – the Median The median is simply the value which occurs in the middle. The data needs to be ordered and we simply pick the middle data. Eg. Male - 3 5 5 7 8 Female - 7 7 8 8 9 Useful for quickly gauging the average value for a data set

Step 3: Analysis – the Mean The mean is the exact average for a data set. You add all of the data values together and then divide by the number of data values to find an average value. Eg. Male : 5 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 8 = 28 Female : 7 + 7 + 8 + 8 + 9 = 39 N = 5 28 / 5 = 5.6 39 / 5 = 7.8 Useful for finding the exact average such as average rainfall or average temperature. Be careful as the mean can be distorted by outliers!

Step 3: Analysis What can the mode, median and mean analyses tell us about the differences in opinion between the sexes on climate change? Also mode, median and mean can be used to create descriptive statistics such as graphs to help visualize the data

Step 3: Analysis

Memory tricks! Mean – it’s the ‘meany’. It takes into account all of the data and gives a cruel and unforgiving value for the average. Median – think ‘meridian’ or ‘medium’ – it’s the one in the middle. “Malcolm in the median”! Mode – think ‘model’ “my favourite model was LEGO” – I had more LEGO than anything else – it’s the one that occurs the most.