---
title: Central location
description: "A statistic for data from a continuous variable that summarise what it says: central location. Typically the mean or median. Central location and spread are two very basic summaries for continuous variables. #### Try also [Spread](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/spread/) [Mean](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/mean-arithmetic-mean-average/) [Median](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/median/) [Distribution](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/distribution/) [Distribution…"
url: "https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/central-location/"
updated: "2024-08-16"
category: All OM book glossary entries
---

# Central location

A statistic for data from a continuous variable that summarise what it says: central location. Typically the mean or median. Central location and spread are two very basic summaries for continuous variables.

#### Try also

[Spread](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/spread/)
[Mean](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/mean-arithmetic-mean-average/)
[Median](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/median/)
[Distribution](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/distribution/)
[Distribution shape](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/distribution-shape/)

#### Dates

Created 13.xi.21, links updated 16.viii.24.