What is the arithmetic average score in a distribution called?

The arithmetic average score in a distribution is referred to as the mean. The mean is calculated by summing all the scores in a dataset and then dividing that sum by the total number of scores. This measure provides a central value that represents the entire dataset, effectively summarizing the data’s overall tendency.

In many statistical analyses, the mean is particularly useful because it takes into account all values in the dataset, making it sensitive to extreme values or outliers. This characteristic can sometimes be advantageous; however, it's also important to consider in context since the mean can be skewed by particularly high or low scores.

Other terms such as median and mode refer to different concepts. The median represents the middle value when scores are arranged in order, while the mode is the score that occurs most frequently within the dataset. The range, on the other hand, describes the difference between the highest and lowest scores, providing insight into the spread of the data rather than a central tendency. Thus, the mean stands out as the specific term for the arithmetic average in a distribution.