For sample size 10 ≤ n < 20, which of the following should be reported?

• A. A table of ascending values + histogram + mean/median
• B. A single mean value
• C. A scatter plot
• D. Only the maximum value

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is how to present descriptive results for a small data set. When you have 10 to under 20 observations, providing a full sense of the data distribution is important so readers can assess spread, skew, and potential outliers. A table of the ascending values, paired with a histogram, and reporting both the mean and the median, delivers a complete picture: the exact data points are visible, the distribution shape is clear, and central tendency is captured with two complementary measures. The mean reflects the overall balance of values, while the median is less affected by outliers or skew, so together they give a robust sense of the dataset’s center.

Reporting only a single mean hides how spread out the data are and whether the distribution is skewed. A scatter plot is useful for exploring relationships between two variables, not for describing a single-variable distribution. And showing only the maximum value provides virtually no information about the rest of the data.