Calculate the mode from the following sample of data:
2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 17

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

The mode is defined as the value that appears most frequently in a data set (SRC_3850, SRC_3851).
To find the mode, you must count the number of times each value appears in the list.
In the given data {2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 17}, the number 2 appears once, 4 appears twice, 6 appears twice, 8 appears three times, and 17 appears once.
Since the number 8 occurs with the highest frequency (three times), it is the mode of the dataset.

Option A: The number 9 is not present in the dataset at all. The mode must be a value from the given data.
Option B: The number 6 appears twice. While it appears more than once, the number 8 appears three times, which is a higher frequency.
Option C: The number 7 is not present in the dataset. The mode must be one of the values within the sample data.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Measures of Central Tendency: Mode as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Although this is a basic statistics question, understanding measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) is fundamental for evidence-based nursing practice. It allows nurses to interpret clinical data, patient outcomes, and research findings.
For instance, a public health nurse might use the mode to identify the most common age group affected by a seasonal flu outbreak in a community, helping to target vaccination campaigns more effectively.
A nurse manager could analyze incident reports and find the modal reason for medication errors (e.g., 'wrong dosage'), indicating a need for specific staff training or system changes.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify what the question is asking. Here, it's to find the 'mode' of a set of numbers.
Recall the definition of mode: it is the value that occurs most frequently in a data series.
Systematically go through the provided data: {2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 17}.
Tally the occurrences of each unique number: 2 (appears 1x), 4 (appears 2x), 6 (appears 2x), 8 (appears 3x), 17 (appears 1x).
Compare the counts. The number '8' has the highest count (frequency) of 3.
Finally, match your result with the given options. The number 8 corresponds to the correct option.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 NursingResearch Sukhpal Kaur p. 449-451

E6 NursingResearch Suresh Sharma 5e Part 2 p. 134-136

Practise the full DSSSB 12 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.