UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The mean is calculated by summing all scores and dividing by the number of observations, so every value contributes to its magnitude. As a result, extremely high or low scores can pull the mean toward them, distorting its representation of the typical value. This sensitivity makes the mean less robust in skewed distributions. Because the stem asks for the measure most affected by extreme scores, mean is the correct answer.

Option A:
Median is based on the middle position of ordered scores and is largely unaffected by the exact values of extremes, as long as their positions do not change. It is therefore more robust to outliers than the mean. Hence, median does not match the property described in the stem.

Option B:
Mean provides useful information in symmetric distributions with few outliers but becomes misleading when the data are highly skewed, such as income distributions. In such cases, median or trimmed means are often preferable. The strong impact of extreme scores on mean corresponds to the statement in the question, confirming mean as the appropriate completion.

Option C:
Mode identifies the most frequent score in the distribution and is not calculated using all values. While the presence of outliers can alter frequencies, extreme scores are not inherently more influential than other scores. Thus, mode is not the measure that is most affected by extremes in the sense described.

Option D:
Geometric mean is used mainly for multiplicative processes or growth rates and, although sensitive in its own way, is not the standard measure considered in discussions about the influence of extreme scores on central tendency in basic descriptive statistics. Therefore, geometric mean is not the best answer here.