The mean/median/mode is the sum of all values in a sample divided by the total number of values. The mean/median/mode is the middle value in a set of observations ordered sequentially in increasing magnitude. Extreme values or outliers can lead to the over- or underestimation of the mean/median/mode, therefore, using the mean/median/mode would be better suited for analyzing a skewed dataset.
The mode for the number of discussion threads (5, 21, 37, 23, 11, 37, 12) generated on the Forum last semester is 37. What information does the mode provide? Answer here: The mode provides information about the most frequently occurring value in a dataset.