UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The median is the middle value of an ordered data set, with an equal number of observations lying below and above it. It is especially useful when the distribution is skewed or when extreme values might distort the mean. As a positional measure, it depends on the order of scores rather than their magnitude. Because the stem describes a value that divides the distribution into two equal halves, median is the correct term.

Option A:
The median is determined by arranging the scores in ascending or descending order and identifying the central position, or averaging the two central values when the number of observations is even. It remains unaffected by extreme scores because it depends only on relative position. These characteristics fit the description in the question, confirming median as the right completion.

Option B:
Mode is the score that occurs most frequently in a distribution and may not coincide with the point that divides the distribution into two equal halves. A distribution can have more than one mode or even no clear mode. Thus, mode is not what the stem is defining.

Option C:
Mean is the arithmetic average, found by adding all scores and dividing by the number of scores. It takes every value into account and is sensitive to extreme scores, but it is not the score where 50 percent of observations lie below and 50 percent above. Therefore, mean is not the correct answer here.

Option D:
Midrange is calculated as the average of the minimum and maximum values in the distribution and may not reflect the central tendency accurately if extreme scores are present. It is not defined as the point that splits the distribution into two equal halves. Hence, midrange is not the appropriate completion.