7. Given the following dataset representing hours slept by patients in a certain hospital unit on a given day: 5, 4, 6, 7, 8, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5, 6, 5, 6, 5, 7, 4, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 3, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8. An analyst wants to use a graphic representation of the data that shows the median number of hours slept. Which method should be used?
Answer: D
Box Plot effectively displays the median hours slept.
A Box Plot is the most suitable graphic representation for showing the median number of hours slept, as it visually summarizes the distribution of the data, including the median, quartiles, and potential outliers.
A) Histogram
A histogram is used to depict the frequency distribution of numerical data. While it can provide insights into the data's distribution, it does not specifically highlight the median, which is a key requirement for this analysis.
B) Bar chart
A bar chart is typically used for categorical data, comparing different groups or categories. It does not effectively show measures of central tendency like the median and is therefore not suitable for this dataset of hours slept.
C) Pie chart
A pie chart is designed to show the proportions of a whole, making it ideal for categorical data rather than continuous numerical data. It does not provide any information about the median or distribution of hours slept, rendering it ineffective for this purpose.
D) Box Plot
A Box Plot is specifically designed to display the distribution of numerical data and highlights the median, making it the most appropriate choice for this dataset. It allows for a clear visualization of the data's central tendency and variability.
Conclusion
The Box Plot is the definitive choice for representing the median hours slept, as it effectively summarizes the dataset while providing crucial information about the median and overall distribution. In contrast, the other options fail to focus on the median or are unsuitable for continuous numerical data, making them less effective for this analysis.