Why and how do we get the average or mean?
The average or mean describes the center of your data. It is provided to summarize the expected value of the variable being studied.
To understand this better, watch the following video:
Averages are easy to calculate using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.
Encode the data that you want to average. Then, in an empty cell, type:
=average(and drag over the cells containing your data. Afterward, type in a close parenthesis and click enter. For example:
=average(A1:A3)You can also take a look at the following demonstration:
The things you can average must refer to one thing only. In the video, the variable being averaged is the height of adult Filipino males. If adult Filipino females were included in the average, this average refers to another variable: the height of adult Filipinos.
In your research, make sure that you will not take the average of different treatments or different variables.
REMEMBER:
The average or mean is taken because it describes the expected value of the variable.
You normally should not take the average or mean of different treatments or variables.
Tanim Talino 