Which statistical measure is used to assess the central tendency of a data set?

The concept of central tendency refers to a central or typical value for a probability distribution. Each of the measures mentioned—mode, median, and mean—captures this idea of a central value in a different way.

The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a data set. It is particularly useful for categorical data where we wish to identify the most common category or value.

The median is the middle value when a data set is ordered from least to greatest. If there is an even number of observations, the median is the average of the two middle values. This measure is beneficial in identifying the central value while being less affected by extreme values or outliers that may skew other measures.

The mean, commonly referred to as the average, is calculated by taking the sum of all values in a data set and dividing by the number of values. It provides a measure of central tendency that considers all values, making it sensitive to extreme values.

Since all three measures provide insights into the central tendency and can be used depending on the nature of the data and the specific requirements of the analysis, the correct answer points to the inclusion of all of them as valid measures in assessing central tendency. Each serves distinct scenarios, thus broadening the understanding of how data can be