Median for Grouped Data: Estimating the central tendency of data arranged in a

frequency distribution

Example Research Problem

As part of the soccer camp study, the investigators wanted to estimate how much the
respondents would be willing to pay for their child to attend the camp. They felt it was best
to measure with price ranges (an ordinal measurement scale) rather than with specific
prices (a ratio measurement scale). The following question was asked as part of their
survey:

Q7) Assuming the camp would run for five days, two hours each day, how much
would you be willing to pay for your child to attend the camp?
1. Less than $10
2. $11 - $25
3. $26 - $50
4. More than $50

What is the median price the respondents would be willing to pay?

STEP 1: Use SPSS to prepare a frequency distribution: data arranged to show

frequency of observations within class intervals

NOTES:

1. SPSS produces frequency distributions by choosing Analyze|Discriptive Statistics|

Statistics|Display Frequency Tables.

PRICE

Valid Cumulative
Frequency Percent Percent Percent
Valid Less
2 1.0 1.4 1.4
than $10
$11-25 20 10.0 14.3 15.7
$26-50 63 31.5 45.0 60.7
More
55 27.5 39.3 100.0
than $50
Total 140 70.0 100.0
Missing System
60 30.0
Missing
Total 60 30.0
Total 200 100.0

1
2. At the same time SPSS will produce a graph of these data if you choose to use the
chart option. You will probably want to use the SPSS chart editor to customize the
graph.
Price
70

60 63

55
50

40

30

20
20

Frequency
10

0
Less than $10 $11-25 $26-50 More than $50

Figure 1

STEP 2: Calculate the median for grouped data

NOTES:
1. The median for grouped data calculation requires you to use the frequency
distribution output and the class intervals that are the question’s response
categories.
2. The formula for the median is:
n
- cf p
Med = B l +( 2 )i
fm

where:

Bl = lower boundary of class containing median

n = sample size
cfp = cumulative frequency of classes preceding class containing the median
fm = number of observations in class containing the median
i = width of the interval containing the median
PRICE

Valid Cumulative
Frequency Percent Percent Percent
Valid Less
2 1.0 1.4 1.4
than $10
$11-25 20 10.0 14.3 15.7
$26-50 63 31.5 45.0 60.7
More
55 27.5 39.3 100.0
than $50
Total 140 70.0 100.0
Missing System
60 30.0
Missing
Total 60 30.0 2
Total 200 100.0
 Example Research Problem
Two demographic items that were on the soccer study’s questionnaire were:

Q15) Which of the following age groups are you in?

1. Eighteen and under
2. 19 to 25
3. 26 to 35
4. 36 to 45
5. Older than 45

Q16) Which of the following contains your annual household income for 1994?
1. Less than $25,000
2. $25,000 up to $49,999
3. $50 000 up to $74,999
4. $75,000 and above

Estimate the median age and income of the respondents? Given the study’s target population, are
these estimates reasonable?

AGE

Valid Cumulative
Frequency Percent Percent Percent
Valid 18 and
1 .5 .6 .6
under
19 to 25 8 4.0 5.1 5.8
26 to 35 38 19.0 24.4 30.1
36 to 45 80 40.0 51.3 81.4
Over 45 29 14.5 18.6 100.0
Total 156 78.0 100.0
Missing System
44 22.0
Missing
Total 44 22.0
Total 200 100.0

INCOME

Valid Cumulative
Frequency Percent Percent Percent
Valid Less
than 44 22.0 28.2 28.2
$25,000
$25,000
up to 69 34.5 44.2 72.4
$49,999
$50,000
up to 36 18.0 23.1 95.5
$74,999
$75,000
7 3.5 4.5 100.0
and Above
Total 156 78.0 100.0
Missing System
44 22.0
Missing
Total 44 22.0
Total 200 100.0