An Introduction to the Interquartile Range

The interquartile range (IQR) is the difference between the first quartile and third quartile. The formula for this is: IQR Q3 - Q1 There are many measurements of the variability of a set of data. Both the range and standard deviation tell us how spread out our data is. The problem with these descriptive statistics is that they are quite sensitive to outliers. A measurement of the spread of a dataset that is more resistant to the presence of outliers is the interquartile range. Definition of Interquartile Range As seen above, the interquartile range is built upon the calculation of other statistics. Before determining the interquartile range, we first need to know the values of the first quartile and third quartile. (Of course, the first and third quartiles depend upon the value of the median). Once we have determined the values of the first and third quartiles, the interquartile range is very easy to calculate. All that we have to do is to subtract the first quartile from the third quartile. This explains the use of the term interquartile range for this statistic. Example To see an example of the calculation of an interquartile range, we will consider the set of data: 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9. The five number summary for this set of data is: Minimum of 2First quartile of 3.5Median of 6Third quartile of 8Maximum of 9 Thus we see that the interquartile range is 8 – 3.5 4.5. The Significance of the Interquartile Range The range gives us a measurement of how spread out the entirety of our data set is. The interquartile range, which tells us how far apart the first and third quartile are, indicates how spread out the middle 50% of our set of data is. Resistance to Outliers The primary advantage of using the interquartile range rather than the range for the measurement of the spread of a data set is that the interquartile range is not sensitive to outliers. To see this, we will look at an example. From the set of data above we have an interquartile range of 3.5, a range of 9 – 2 7 and a standard deviation of 2.34. If we replace the highest value of 9 with an extreme outlier of 100, then the standard deviation becomes 27.37 and the range is 98. Even though we have quite drastic shifts of these values, the first and third quartiles are unaffected and thus the interquartile range does not change. Use of the Interquartile Range Besides being a less sensitive measure of the spread of a data set, the interquartile range has another important use. Due to its resistance to outliers, the interquartile range is useful in identifying when a value is an outlier. The interquartile range rule is what informs us whether we have a mild or strong outlier.  To look for an outlier, we must look below the first quartile or above the third quartile.  How far we should go depends upon the value of the interquartile range.

Preparing an Outline for Research Articles and Thesis for Dummies

Preparing an Outline for Research Articles and Thesis for Dummies The best type of essay starts with the very best sort of topic, so take time to choose something which works for you. The conclusion also needs to be included in the prewriting practice. To put it differently, it should provide a last statement that touches on the key points which you have made in your essay. If your thesis is something which is normally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there's not any reason to attempt to persuade people. An outline will help to specify the way a student will build other critical sections including Literature Review. An absolutely free outline may be used by writers in writing. An excellent outline has become the most crucial step in writing a superb paper. It is an important element in writing a good paper. Rectify all the errors you are able to pinpoint and also attempt to acquire somebody else to read the paper you've written. There are a couple of suggestions on how to compose your abstract but the very best advice is that you look at some journals applicable to your research and attempt to format your abstract in a similar way. There are a number of reasons, but generally speaking, it could be beneficial to make an outline if you want to demonstrate the hierarchical relationship or logical ordering of information. Tell yourself that you have all of the thoughts, suggestions and words you require to compose great articles people will like to read. Facts, Fiction and Preparing an Outline for Research Articles and Thesis A research paper outline, though, will additionally have a hypothesis or thesis as a portion of the introduction. Make sure the topic you pick for your dissertation is one you're comfortable and familiar with. A methodological design has to be included in the discussion in a thesis outline. There are a lot of dissertation guides out there which contain chapters and chapters of information about how to compose an outstan ding dissertation. Next, it has to sum up the entire essay. Choosing a thesis doesn't arrive first. Make sure that your thesis is arguable. Observing the introduction the points required to demonstrate the thesis are provided. Whether you do an easy research or a complicated one for a larger project, a research outline can help you have the best outcomes. An outline is essential for all sorts of research papers. A critical part of any research paper outline is going to be a literature review. Utilizing a definitive outline to prepare a research paper can help you to concentrate on its key elements of the analysis. Writing a research paper is as vital as performing the true research or experiment itself and can seem to be an extremely daunting endeavor. Planning is undoubtedly a necessity, and all the very best research papers examples come from effective planning. Tell yourself which you can write articles. Good research papers are all over the net for one to read. When outlining your methodology, you would like to explain the critical steps you intend to take to collect information. Conducting a research isn't any doubt an elaborate affair and with all these tasks to do, it isn't uncommon to drop consistency if there is absolutely no outline. Outlines ought to be checked to create sure the points that you have covered have a logical flow. A thesis outline was designed to be certain that the plans for the inception of a thesis is put together in such a manner that all of the variables necessary to the range of the study are considered appropriately. Now you have a notion of what you w ould like to write about, the next step ought to be planning everything carefully. In some instances, some regions of the outline aren't written down due to some last minute alterations. To begin, you're going to want a great topic and a strong focus as a way to receive your paper outline rolling. If you take a look at research paper outline examples, you will observe we have several strategies to present the principal body.

The involvement of Northern NGOs with the developing countries Free Essays

In this research paper we look at the involvement of Northern NGOs with the developing countries. They are prime donors of most developing countries programs which are geared towards alleviating the welfare of the masses such as improve health and living condition. Local NGOs have been involved as intermediaries between government and the people. We will write a custom essay sample on The involvement of Northern NGOs with the developing countries or any similar topic only for you Order Now The northern NGOs serve their specific agenda and mandate contrary to what the poor rural urban expect. NORTHERN NGOS Northern NGOs represented international organizations who are donors to developing countries that are are donors such as World Bank and private agencies. Their relation with the south makes it the subject of this research paper. The relationship with governments and nongovernmental organization with them plays a critical role in understanding their mandates and objectives in helping the population in the rural and urban regions. The urban and rural populace has diverse needs ranging from health, unemployment, education, poverty and access to other services. In this respect governments have been unable to provide these services to their community in an effective and wider coverage manner. For instance, in South Africa, 30 % of the population are unemployed and for the 20% of the poorest households, 53% ere unemployed (Adato Haddad 2001, p.1). It is also reported that there is need for job creation in all regions inhabited by the poorest households i.e. urban, metropolitan and rural. Based on these facts the governments of countries in the developing world have focused their programs to alleviate these problems e.g. the welfare of the masses, improve living condition, health and service provision (Li 2005). The programs have achieved different success margins and limitations. Most of government programs are constrained in reaching the people because of bureaucracy, authoritarian rule and high cost of implementation. Since most of the programs are financed by international community (Northern NGOs) and governments. For instance, in Indonesia the World Bank has developed social development programs to help them achieve their mandate and objectives. In order to do these, they have used analysis of the needs of the regions to come up with the plan. Due to constraints in working with the government directly they have supported and strengthened the local NGOs and civil society organizations (CSOs) to advance their objectives (Li 2005). The rationale use includes improving transparency in village planning level, conflict resolution and step sponsorship of NGOs. However NGOs have their own limitations such as the leaders use as a vehicle for reformation of social and political life. The World Bank has used neo-liberal system to ensure ‘good governance’ by instituting a competitive process based on administrative and decentralized structures (Li 2005). More so in order for the region to be eligible for support from World Bank it had to proof that it is pro-poor and is supervised by the World Bank team. According to Arya (1999) he explains the role in which NGOs have worked with their government under the funding of donors (government agencies, private agencies and governments). The common objectives for the collaboration include; access to technical resources, gain legitimacy or recognition from the people, obtain appropriate solution and developmental problems, enhance people’s participation and provide   better accountability, transparency and public reform system (Arya   1999). Donors view NGOs as intermediaries or transitory to government links to people and use them to as instruments of improved service delivery and outreach to the government. The donors see their task as completed when NGOs are involved in the project programs with the government. Most private donors do not support or supervise the selection criterion even when there is resistance from the government. However, they can play a key role in establishing mechanism to bring NGOs so that they have a beneficial effect on service delivery, participation and decentralization (Arya 1999). Northern NGOs for the past decade have increased funding to southern NGOs with due to limitation effectiveness of delivery, reforms, cost efficiency, sustainability and participation from the government. DeGabriele (2002), when studying about improvement of community based management projects. He previewed the World Health Organization commitment to provide access to safe and clean water. But from the experiences gathered two challenges emerged; water accessibility could not be achieved with the rate of population growth and the intended improvements to health were not realized within 1980 – 1990 decade. This becomes the redefinition of the concept of community management within water sector. It was realized that water accessibility could only be achieved with participatory role implemented (DeGabriele 2002). AED (1998) elaborates on the participatory approach used to i.e. the participatory learning and Action approach which involves communities to analyze their needs, identify possible solutions and develop, implement and evaluate the plan of action. In contrast NGOs can have negative implication to the poor because they can use them to legitimize their existence, solicit funds and raise their profile for the disadvantage of the poor. Changes in their positive attitude will go way to bring positive results (AED 1998, Kaiser 2000, p. 6). CONCLUSION Northern NGOs play critical role in financing development programs to developing countries. They have been involved directly or indirectly with government depending on the nature and intensity of the resources used and the origin of the donor. Most private agencies finance the local NGOs who are viewed as intermediaries or transitory link between the government and people. The donors have used them to enhance their agenda and mandate to ensure good governance of project- programs they agree with the government. REFERENCE Adato, M.; Haddad, L, 2001, Poverty targets, community-based public works programs: a cross-disciplinary assessment in South Africa, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Available from: http://www.ifpri.org/divs/fcnd/dp/papers/fcndp121.pdf [8 April 2008] AED, 1998, Empowering communities: participatory techniques for community-based programme development, Academy for Educational Development, Washington DC, Available from: http://pcs.aed.org/empowering.htm [8April 2008] Arya, V, 1999, Towards a relationship of significance: lessons from a decade of collaboration between government and NGOs in Rajasthan, India,   Agricultural Research and Extension Network (AgREN), Available from: http://www.odi.org.uk/agren/papers/agrenpaper_97.pdf [8April 2008] DeGabriele, J, 2002, Improving community based management of boreholes† a case study from Malawi Land Tenure Centre, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Available from http://www2.irc.nl/manage/debate/malawi.html [8April 2008] Kaiser, T, 2000, Participatory beneficiary-based approaches in evaluation of humanitarian programmes, Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit (EPAU), UNHCR, Available from : http://www.unhcr.org/research/RESEARCH/3c7527f91.pdf [8April 2008] Li, T, 2005, The government through community; the World Bank in Indonesia, University of Toronto, Available from: http://www.law.nyu.edu/kingsburyb/fall05/globalization/Li_paper.pdf [8April 2008] How to cite The involvement of Northern NGOs with the developing countries, Essay examples