what are the advantages and disadvantages in using the mode in statistics?
472192
To elaborate further, your mode does tell you what the most common value in your data is, but, like the median, it's a somewhat arbitrary value.  For example, take the data set 1,2,2,3,7.  Both the mode and the median are 2, and the mean is 3.  Now take the data set 1,2,2,25,50.  Again, the mode and the median are both 2, but the mean is now 16.  Now, say that second data set represents the number of shark attacks that have happened in the past 5 years off the coast of a beachfront property you're thinking about buying.  I'd much rather know the mean number of shark attacks, not the mode or the median, wouldn't you?
184404
I usually prefer not to use it; anyway very many things are based on statistics: most branches of medicine, TV programs' shares, quality control of any little object you buy...\n\nIf I find others, I'll update the answer.
217145
the mode of a set of numbers is the number that occurs most often.  for example, in the set 2, 4, 5,8, 8, 9, the mode is 8, as it occurs twice and the others only once.  another example: 7, 9, 9, 2, 5, 5, what is the mode?  there are actually two, 5 and 9, because the both occur the most.  if all numbers occur the same number of times, then there is no mode.\ncheck your math book and ask your teacher for more explanation.\nall you have to do is count the numbers, some people find that it helps to put them in order, so that they can be sure not to miss any. (instead of 7, 9, 9..., rewrite as 2, 5, 5, 7, 9, 9, this is also helpful when doing mean and median)\ngood luck on your work!  i like that you didn't include the actual problem, that shows that you really want to learn, not just take the easy way out.
808395
You can't apply statistics (to anything) unless you have a sufficient number of values to work with.  For example, if you took a poll of who people were going to vote for, if you only asked 5 people, you might not get an accurate representation - but if you ask 5000 then the margin of error gets smaller.  With molecules, there are millions of them.
268426
Gosh, I used that program years ago in grad school.  I don't remember it being too hard to pick up, especially since I started using it in conjunction with a statistics course.  I don't remember if there was a book that came with the program, but, I probably didn't read it anyway.  Our professor used the program during a few of our lectures, so everyone learned by seeing it in use.  Maybe your professor or the TA for the class can give a tutorial on the program.
840800
The mode is the data point that appears the most often. From the problem statement, there's a single mode, 5. So, since there are 3 cards, then at least 2 of the cards must be 5. (If all 3 cards are different, then there would be 3 modes.)\n\nSo the cards are 5, 5, and x. (x could be 5 without changing the mode). Now, look at the mean. To find the mean, add up all the values, and divide by the number of values. So add 5 + 5 + x to get x + 10, and divide that by 3. That expression must equal 8.\n\nSo, you now have an equation to solve: (x + 10) / 3 = 8. Solve it as you normally would:\n\nmultiply both sides by 3 to get x + 10 = 24\nsubtract 10 from both sides to get x = 14.\n\nSo the 3 cards are 5, 5, and 14. The mode is 5, and the mean is (5 + 5 + 14) / 3 = 24 / 3 = 8.
837986
http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/stathome.html
148676
Advantages, you only have to hit the 1 key.\ndisadvatages, no one knows what the heck your asking.\nDUH
1181339
Also known as IT has many advantages. Most mentioned by the two previous answers. Good Luck on your recitation.
581005
1) disadvantages:\n- comparability and availability (3 way- stick)\nin the regions where census data is problematic, it's availability can be a problem, and, obviously, this introduces unreliability into your estimations based on statistical methods;\nin the regions like US secondary data is so widely available that one has to posess superior ability to analyze it to be able to extract advantageous information about consumer behaviour not already extracted by competitors)\n- explanatory power\nif consumers are grouped by one demographics, say, age, there's ambiguity as to whether consumers at the border ages are sufficiently different to place them in separate groups;  also, you can not split them into groups to no limit - therefore you lose information about consumers if you group them based on limited demographics;\n\n2) advantages:\n- availability\nin countries like US secondary demographical data IS the cheapest (free) data to get;\n- in developed countries, with some effort and good statistical software, for generic products, especially, demographical data can explain up to 70% of change in consumer behaviour\n\n\n- this is not all, but everything I remember from my marketing course
35213
b, of course.\n\nif one has some preconceived notions, statistics can be used as objective data to shed factual light on the subject.  doing so will either support your notions (choice a) or discredit them.  \n\nanybody, when faced with objective and factual information that discredits their ideas, should reconsider those ideas or incorporate the new facts into their philosophy.  this is the cornerstone of open and honest discussion.\n\nstatistics as "scientific data" are meaningless unless one adheres to the fundamental premise of science, which is that experiment is the sole judge of truth.\n\nit is reasonable to use statistical data to support your ideas in a debate, as long as you remain open to reconsidering your position in the light of new information!  \n\nanyone can (and many do) cherry-pick or manipulate statistics to support a particular idea, when there is plenty of other statistical data that they pretend doesn't exist or is irrelevant.  doing so is intellectually dishonest.
324717
what type of statistics?
15436
1. Jessica M Utts and Robert F Heckard (2006) Statistical Ideas and Methods, Thomson Brookes/Cole \n*** (3 stars)\n2. Gerald Keller and Brian Warrack, Statistics for Management and Economics –6th Edition, Duxbury. This textbook comes with a CD-ROM comprising applets for interactive examples, a student study guide and data files.\n****(4 stars) - quite good
529880
Advantages - fast creation, easily modified and saves money\n\nDisadvantages - data can be lost or corrupted, needs backing up all the time.
392926
Link 1 - Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Assessment Methods.\nLink 2 -  Oral vs. Written Evaluation of Students \nLink 3 - A variety of evaluation/assessment methods with varying pros and cons for different kinds of course materials and teaching styles.
83868
If you're talking about e-commerce on websites I think a disadvantage is the difficulty in satsifying customers.  Viewing product details, shopping carts and checking out all have to be very intuitive and if they're not you could lose a customer very easly.  I think customer satisfaction is much more important (and easier to lose) on an ecommerce website than regular one.
1021536
theoretically the importance of statistics in management is to provide a factual basis for decision making - however, in my personal experience statistics are generally manipulated in order to support the personal aims of the manager concerned