What is the inter-quartile range (IQR)?
The IQR is a measure of statistical dispersion, or how spread out the values are in a dataset. It’s calculated as the difference between the third quartile (Q3) and the first quartile (Q1).
How do I calculate Q1 and Q3?
To find Q1, arrange your data from smallest to largest and identify the median of the lower half. For Q3, find the median of the upper half.
Why is IQR useful?
IQR is useful because it’s less affected by outliers than other measures like standard deviation, making it a robust indicator of variability in skewed distributions.
Can I use IQR for any type of data?
Yes, you can use IQR with ordinal, interval, and ratio level data. It’s particularly useful for non-normally distributed data.
What does a larger IQR indicate?
A larger IQR indicates that the middle 50% of the data is more spread out or variable compared to a smaller IQR, which suggests less variability in the middle range.
How do I interpret the IQR in relation to outliers?
Outliers can be identified by looking for data points that fall below Q1 – 1.5 * IQR or above Q3 + 1.5 * IQR, which are considered potential outliers.
Can I use IQR with categorical data?
No, IQR is not applicable to categorical data because it relies on ordering and numerical differences between values.