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Introducing the mean absolute deviation 'effect' size

Gorard, S.

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Abstract

This paper revisits the use of effect sizes in the analysis of experimental and similar results, and reminds readers of the relative advantages of the mean absolute deviation as a measure of variation, as opposed to the more complex standard deviation. The mean absolute deviation is is easier to use and understand, and more tolerant of extreme values. The paper then proposes the use of an easy to comprehend effect size based on the mean difference between treatment groups, divided by the mean absolute deviation of all scores. Using a simulation based on 1,656 randomised controlled trials each with 100 cases, and a before and after design, the paper shows that the substantive findings from any such trial would be the same whether raw-score differences, a traditional effect size like Cohen’s d, or the mean absolute deviation effect size is used. The same would be true for any comparison, whether for a trial or a simpler cross-sectional design. It seems that there is a clear choice over which effect size to use. The main advantage in using raw scores as an outcome measure is that they are easy to comprehend. However, they might be misleading and so perhaps require more judgement to interpret than traditional ‘effect’ sizes. Among the advantages of using the mean absolute deviation effect size are its relative simplicity, everyday meaning, and the lack of distortion of extreme scores caused by the squaring involved in computing the standard deviation. Given that working with absolute values is no longer the barrier to computation that it apparently was before the advent of digital calculators, there is a clear place for the mean absolute deviation effect size (termed ‘A’).

Citation

Gorard, S. (2015). Introducing the mean absolute deviation 'effect' size. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 38(2), 105-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727x.2014.920810

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 9, 2014
Online Publication Date May 23, 2014
Publication Date Jan 1, 2015
Deposit Date Apr 10, 2014
Publicly Available Date Apr 23, 2014
Journal International Journal of Research & Method in Education
Print ISSN 1743-727X
Electronic ISSN 1743-7288
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 38
Issue 2
Pages 105-114
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727x.2014.920810
Keywords Mean absolute deviation, Effect size, Analysing population data, Absolute correlation, Randomised trials.
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1434640

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