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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
mean of items
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"mean of items" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to refer to the average of a group of items or values, e.g., "The mean of the five items was 6.2."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
11 human-written examples
The mean of items 5 (morning stiffness, severity) and 6 is calculated.
The unweighted mean of items in each factor provided a scale score that ranged between +3 and -3.
Table 3 shows the mean of items which showed statistically significant differences between the first year and clinical batch students.
Science
The summary score was then determined by the mean of items that were answered, rather than just the total number of items.
The first was pain, measured as change from baseline in one of the following: WOMAC question #1, WOMAC question #2, or the mean of items 3,5 and 6 on the BPI.
A score was calculated for each of the six dimensions as the mean of items in the dimension with all items contributing equally to the score, and was linearly transformed to a 0-100 scale.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
49 human-written examples
However, when computing subscale scores we applied the RAND-36 standard algorithm whereby scores are computed as the mean of item ratings.
The scale is scored as the mean of item scores.
Factor scores were calculated as the mean of item scores within the factor.
Science
The mean of item 3 ('to what extent has our service met your needs?') was lower than for other items of the questionnaire (mean = 2.56, SD = 1.01).
Science
Scale scores were used as dependent variables and were calculated for each individual as the mean of item scores for the five items.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When reporting the "mean of items", always specify the scale or units of measurement to provide context for interpreting the value. For example, clarify if the "items" were scored on a Likert scale or represent physical measurements.
Common error
Avoid presenting the "mean of items" without explaining the underlying data distribution. A mean can be misleading if the data has outliers or is heavily skewed; consider providing additional statistical measures like standard deviation or median.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "mean of items" serves as a noun phrase functioning as a subject or object in a sentence. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it refers to a calculated average from a collection of individual entries or values.
Frequent in
Science
100%
Less common in
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "mean of items" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, predominantly within scientific literature, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a noun phrase to statistically report and summarize a calculated average. While the phrase is usually correct, care must be taken to present it with sufficient context to avoid misinterpretations. Alternatives like "average of items" can be used without altering the meaning. As Ludwig AI shows, context is key in the statistical realm and even in grammar and usage.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
average of items
Replaces "mean" with its synonym "average", indicating a similar calculation but potentially emphasizing a more general or layman understanding.
average item value
Focuses on the value resulting from the averaging calculation, placing emphasis on the result rather than the process.
item average
Inverts the original phrase's structure, emphasizing the item as the subject around which averaging is performed.
arithmetic mean of items
Specifies the type of mean calculation being performed, lending a more technical tone to the phrase.
item score mean
Indicates the "items" are specifically being scored, clarifying the nature of data being averaged.
average of item responses
Emphasizes items being responses to something, clarifying that each item represents a particular answer or reaction.
central tendency of items
Uses the statistical term "central tendency", describing the mean as a measure of typical value rather than just an average.
typical item value
Focuses on identifying a representative or expected value from the collection of items, instead of strict averaging.
aggregate item value
Highlights the collection of "items" being viewed as a group, showing a comprehensive or combined value result.
overall item average
Emphasizes that the average represents a complete or encompassing assessment of all "items" considered.
FAQs
What does "mean of items" mean in statistics?
In statistics, "mean of items" refers to the average value calculated by summing all the values of the items and dividing by the number of items. It is a measure of central tendency, indicating the typical value within a dataset.
How do I calculate the "mean of items" in a survey?
To calculate the "mean of items" in a survey, assign numerical values to each response option (e.g., 1 to 5 on a Likert scale), sum the values for each item across all respondents, and then divide by the total number of respondents. This gives you the average score for each item.
What's an alternative to saying "mean of items"?
You can use alternatives like "average of items", "item average", or "average item value", depending on the context.
When is it appropriate to use the "mean of items"?
It's appropriate to use the "mean of items" when your data is interval or ratio, and you want to find a central value that represents the typical score or value across a set of items. Be mindful of outliers or skewed data, which can distort the mean.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested