What is defined as the most frequently occurring score in a data set?

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Study for the UCF PSY3213C Research Methods in Psychology Exam. Review key concepts with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations and hints. Master your subject and excel in your test!

The mode is defined as the most frequently occurring score in a data set. It identifies the value that appears most often, which makes it particularly useful in understanding the distribution of data. For example, in a data set where the scores are 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, the mode would be 4, as it appears more frequently than the other numbers.

This measure is applicable for both nominal and ordinal data, making it versatile for various kinds of statistical analysis. In contrast, median and mean focus on central tendencies but do not necessarily reflect the frequency of scores, while the range refers to the difference between the highest and lowest scores in the set. Understanding the mode is important in research, as it provides insights into commonalities within the data.