Decile Meaning: Definition and Examples
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decile
[ˈdɛsaɪl ]
Definition
statistical measurement
A decile is a statistical term that refers to the value of a dataset that divides the data into ten equal parts. Each part represents 10% of the data set. Deciles are useful in understanding the distribution of data and are commonly used in statistical analysis.
Synonyms
percentile group, tenth.
Examples of usage
- The income distribution can be grouped into deciles for better analysis.
- In the test scores, the top decile represents the highest 10% of students.
- Researchers categorized the population into deciles based on their survey responses.
Interesting Facts
Mathematics
- In statistics, dividing a set of data into deciles helps to understand how values are spread out.
- Each decile represents 10% of the data: the first decile includes the lowest 10%, and the tenth decile includes the highest 10%.
- Using deciles can help in comparing different groups more clearly, such as income levels.
Education
- Educators use deciles to analyze test scores and determine how students are performing relative to their peers.
- Schools may be ranked using deciles, indicating how well they perform compared to others in terms of academic achievement.
- Understanding deciles can also help in resource allocation, ensuring that support is given where it's needed most.
Economics
- Economists analyze income distribution using deciles, helping to illustrate wealth inequality within a population.
- Deciles can also assist businesses in market segmentation, targeting different income groups effectively.
- Government policies might focus on the lowest income deciles to provide financial assistance or develop economic programs.
Research
- Social scientists often use deciles in surveys to categorize responses and better analyze public opinion trends.
- Data visualization in research sometimes includes deciles to present key findings in a way that's easier to understand.
- Deciles allow researchers to highlight significant differences among groups that wouldn't be visible otherwise.
Origin of 'decile'
The word 'decile' is derived from the Latin word 'decimus', meaning 'tenth'. The concept of dividing a whole into ten parts has been used in various fields, such as statistics and social sciences, since the late 19th century. The term began appearing in English literature around the early 20th century as the study of statistics became more formalized. Its use has broadened to encompass various analyses where data is segmented into ten equal parts for clearer interpretation and understanding, especially in economic and educational assessments.