How is the median determined in a data set?

The median is determined by arranging the scores in numerical order and then identifying the middle score of that ordered list. This method ensures that the median reflects the central value of a data set, regardless of the distribution of values.

If there is an odd number of scores, the median is simply the middle number. When there is an even number of scores, the median is calculated by taking the average of the two middle values, ensuring that it accurately represents the center of the dataset. This process effectively balances the data, making the median a robust measure of central tendency that is less influenced by extreme values compared to the mean.