Non-Rigidly Defined Central Tendency
Which measure of central tendency is not rigidly defined--
- Mean
- Mode — Correct Answer
- Median
- Standard deviation
Explanation:
Correct Answer: Mode
The Mode is considered "not rigidly defined" because a dataset can have no mode, one mode, or multiple modes — there is no single unique definition that applies universally like Mean or Median.
Why Mode is Not Rigidly Defined
- A dataset with all unique values → no mode
- A dataset with one most-frequent value → unimodal
- A dataset with two equally frequent values → bimodal
- A dataset with multiple peaks → multimodal
- This ambiguity means Mode is not always uniquely or consistently determinable
Rigidity of Measures of Central Tendency
| Measure | Rigidly Defined? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mean | Yes ✔ | Always one unique value; based on all observations |
| Median | Yes ✔ | Always one unique middle value |
| Mode | No ✘ | Can be absent, one, or multiple |
Why Other Options Are Wrong
- Mean → most rigidly defined and most stable measure of central tendency
- Median → rigidly defined as the exact middle value of ordered data
- Standard Deviation → measure of dispersion; always uniquely defined
📚 About this Topic — Animal Genetics & Breeding
This multiple choice question is from Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Genetics & Breeding to strengthen your preparation.
