Skip to main content

Regression to the Mean


 Regression to the mean is a statistical concept based on evidence that a sample of data representing extreme values from the population mean will likely be close to the mean the next time a sample is taken.

In psychological testing, people who obtain extreme scores on a test tend to obtain scores closer to the mean on a second testing. That is, high scorers tend to earn lower scores and low scorers tend to earn higher scores.

The term, Regression to the Mean is sometimes referred to as RTM. The concept appears in a paper by British scientist Sir Francis Galton (1886).

Notes

I originally published this post in the Sutton (2024) location referred to in references. This is a copy of that post.

I created the image in Microsoft designer.


References

Galton, F. (1886). Regression towards mediocrity in hereditary stature. The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 15, 246-263.

Sutton, G. W. (2024, January 5). Regression to the mean. Psychology Concepts and Theories. Retrieved from https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2024/01/regression-to-mean.html

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    


You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Academic Self-Efficacy Scale ASE

  Overview The  Academic Self-Efficacy Scale is an application of Self-Efficacy Theory   to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and academic performance using 8-items rated on a 7-point scale. The work of Chemers et al. (2001) has been widely cited. Format The 8-items are rated on a 7-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 = Very Untrue to 7 = Very True. Sample Items 2. I know how to take notes. 6. I usually do very well in school and at academic tasks.   Reliability, Validity, and Other Research notes In the article describing the development and use of the ASE, the authors observed: “As predicted, academic self-efficacy was significantly and directly related to academic expectations and academic performance.” (Chemers et al., 2001, p. 61)   Sutton et al. (2011) reported Cronbach's alpha of .83 in their study of academic self-esteem and personal strengths. ASE was highly positively correlated with ACT scores (.24) and GPA (.39)....

Rotterdam Emotional Intelligence Scale (REIS)

  Scale name: Rotterdam Emotional Intelligence Scale (REIS) Scales overview : The Rotterdam Emotional Intelligence Scale (REIS) is a 28-item measure of emotional intelligence having four subscales. Authors: Pekaar, Keri A., Bakker, Arnold B., van der Linden, Dimitri, & Born, Marise Ph. Response Type: All items are rated on a 5-point Likert type scale ranging from 1 (totally disagree to 5 (totally agree). Subscales = 4   Following are the four subscales with a sample item. Self-focused emotion appraisal( 1. I always know how I feel.) Other-focused emotion appraisal ( 8. I am aware of the emotions of the people around me.) Self-focused emotion regulation ( 15. I am in control of my own emotions.) Other-focused emotion regulation ( 22. I can make someone else feel differently.)   Reliability and Validity “The results indicate that the REIS follows a four-factorial structure and can be reliably measured with 28 items. The REIS was strongly correl...

Spiritual Bypass Scale (SBS-13)

  Assessment name:   Spiritual Bypass Scale-13 (SBS-13) Scale overview: To assess the observed spiritual bypassing phenomenon, Fox et al. (2017) developed the 13 item Spiritual Bypass Scale . Authors: Fox, Cashwell, and Picciotto    [ Read more about Spiritual Bypassing in Psychotherapy] Response Type: The 13 items are rated on a four-point scale of agreement. Scale items Data analyses from two ethnically diverse US adult samples supported two factors (Psychological Avoidance, PA; Spiritualizing, SP). PA example: When I am in pain, I believe God will deliver me from it SP example: When someone I know is in trouble, I believe it is because they have done something wrong spiritually.   Psychometric properties Cronbach’salphas: Total scale = .85, PA = .82; Sp = .75. The total SBS score was associated with the ASPIRES subscales except for connectedness. PA was associated with depression and SP with stress and anxiety (DASS-21). The over...