Which term is defined as the middle score in a distribution?

• A. Line plots/Dot plots
• B. Median
• C. Bar Graphs
• D. Charts/Graphs

Answer: (B)

The middle score in a distribution is called the median. When you line up all the data from smallest to largest, the median is the value right in the center, splitting the data into two halves with about half the scores below and half above. If there’s an odd number of data points, the median is the exact middle value; if there’s an even number, the median is the average of the two central values. This makes the median a useful measure of central tendency, especially when a distribution is skewed or has outliers, because it reflects the central position without being pulled toward extreme values.

The other terms refer to ways of displaying data rather than a description of a central value: line plots or dot plots show individual data points along an axis, bar graphs compare categories, and charts or graphs is a broad category for various forms of data visualization.