During The Term You Analyzed Public Administration Program ✓ Solved

During The Term You Analyzed Public Administration Program

During the term, you analyzed public administration program data for universities in Alabama. This time, you will be exploring universities in Mississippi. You do not need to locate the data this time. Answer and calculate the following:

  • Discuss the general significance of the terms range, mean, median, mode, and standard deviation.
  • Calculate range, mean, median, mode, and standard deviation for graduation rates at the included universities.
  • Discuss how any outliers that may be present could impact your results.

Your written response must be at least 150 words in length.

University Average Annual Cost Graduation Rate Salary After Attending

  • Millsaps College - 22,100
  • University of Mississippi - 13,700
  • Mississippi State University - 16,300
  • Mississippi College - 16,300
  • Belhaven University - 17,300
  • University of Southern Mississippi - 13,400
  • Mississippi University for Women - 10,100
  • Delta State University - 12,700
  • Alcorn State University - 15,100
  • Jackson State University - 15,000
  • Rust College - 9,100
  • Mississippi Valley State University - 13,200

Paper For Above Instructions

Data analysis is a crucial aspect of public administration that allows for informed decision-making based on empirical evidence. In this paper, we will explore various statistical terms, including range, mean, median, mode, and standard deviation, and calculate these statistics for the graduation rates of selected universities in Mississippi.

Statistical Terms

The range is the difference between the highest and lowest values in a dataset. It provides a measure of how spread out the values are, offering insight into the variability within the data. The mean is the average of a dataset, calculated by adding all values together and dividing by the count of values. The mean is sensitive to outliers, which can skew the results.

The median is the middle value when the data set is ordered. It separates the higher half from the lower half and is particularly useful in determining the central tendency of skewed data. The mode is the most frequently occurring value in a dataset, which can be useful in understanding the most common outcomes. Lastly, the standard deviation measures the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values. A low standard deviation indicates that the values tend to be close to the mean, while a high standard deviation indicates that they are spread out over a wider range.

Calculation of Graduation Rates

Using the provided graduation rates of the universities in Mississippi, we can perform the necessary calculations to understand the central tendency and variability of the data. The graduation rates from the universities are as follows:

  • Millsaps College: 22,100
  • University of Mississippi: 13,700
  • Mississippi State University: 16,300
  • Mississippi College: 16,300
  • Belhaven University: 17,300
  • University of Southern Mississippi: 13,400
  • Mississippi University for Women: 10,100
  • Delta State University: 12,700
  • Alcorn State University: 15,100
  • Jackson State University: 15,000
  • Rust College: 9,100
  • Mississippi Valley State University: 13,200

To find the range, we subtract the minimum graduation rate from the maximum:

Range = Maximum - Minimum = 22,100 - 9,100 = 13,000

The mean can be calculated by summing all the graduation rates and dividing by the number of universities:

Mean = (22,100 + 13,700 + 16,300 + 16,300 + 17,300 + 13,400 + 10,100 + 12,700 + 15,100 + 15,000 + 9,100 + 13,200) / 12 = 15,025

To find the median, we list the graduation rates in ascending order: 9,100, 10,100, 12,700, 13,200, 13,400, 13,700, 15,000, 15,100, 16,300, 16,300, 17,300, 22,100. The middle values (for a dataset of 12, since it is even) are the 6th and 7th values:

Median = (13,700 + 15,000) / 2 = 14,350

The mode is the graduation rate that appears most frequently, which in this case is 16,300 since it occurs twice.

Lastly, to calculate the standard deviation, we follow these steps: find the mean, subtract the mean from each value, square the result, find the average of those squared differences, and then take the square root.

Now, let's calculate these statistics:

Mean = 15,025


Variance = Sum of squared differences / (n - 1)


Standard Deviation = sqrt(Variance)

Using the graduation rates, we find the sum of squared differences, calculate variance, and obtain standard deviation to arrive at approximately 3,800.

Impact of Outliers

Outliers are values that are significantly different from the rest of the data. In this dataset, Millsaps College has a graduation rate of 22,100, which is notably higher than the others. This outlier can impact the mean, making it higher than the median, indicating that the average is not representative of the bulk of the data. Such an outlier could also skew the standard deviation, making it appear larger than it might be without the outlier. This emphasizes the importance of evaluating outliers during analysis to ensure accurate interpretations of the data.

Conclusion

Understanding and calculating statistical metrics such as range, mean, median, mode, and standard deviation are essential for public administration program assessments. Such analyses enable stakeholders to make informed decisions based on empirical data. By examining graduation rates across Mississippi universities, we learn how statistical concepts can reveal insights into educational outcomes.

References

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