[Sense and applicability of means. Various critical considerations]

The range of application and account of the arithmetic and geometric mean, the mode and the median set different standards to the frequency distribution of the original data. The quite frequently inadequate use of the geometric mean in serological dilution series will be demonstrated in a practical example. The interview of 66 physicians and 31 graduate and postgraduate engineers was made to give an impression of the participants' knowledge of the above mentioned statistical mean values and their practical application. The arithmetic mean proved to be the best known and most popular method in use, closely followed by the geometric mean and far of by the median and the mode. Other questions were to find out, why the arithmetic mean was the favourite. The result was as astonishing as it was simple: The arithmetic mean seemed to be used most because it was known best at school and university. Therefore in a great number of cases statistical means were chosen from a formalistic point of view and not, as it would be much more appreciated, according to the specific nature of the data or to pertinent accounts.