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Mastering the MEDIAN Function in Looker Studio: A Comprehensive Guide to Syntax, Use Cases, and Limitations

As a tenured connoisseur of all things data analysis, I’ve become quite acquainted with Google Data Studio’s many functions. A key player in our toolset? The

MEDIAN

function. Serving as the heart of various computation operations, the

MEDIAN

function helps you uncover the middle-ground value from a set of data.

The Syntax of the Median Function

Utilizing the

MEDIAN

function is all about the syntax—the language and structure of your commands. To call upon this function, you follow a straightforward format:

MEDIAN(X)

here symbolizes a numeric field or an expression. Remember, though, this function does not allow an aggregated field or the subsequent result from an aggregation operation to be used as ‘X’.

How Does the MEDIAN Function Work?

At its essence, the

MEDIAN

function works primarily to give you the center value from a set of data. If your data set has an odd number of values, it hands you the precise middle value. For an even data set, the

MEDIAN

function finds the middle-ground by interpolating between the two center values.

MEDIAN Function Examples

Let’s dabble with our function in a more practical report—Sales metrics. Assume we have the following set of sales data for a week from our e-commerce site:

| Day | Sales ($) | ||| | Mon | 9000 | | Tue | 8500 | | Wed | 9500 | | Thu | 9200 | | Fri | 8800 | | Sat | 9300 | | Sun | 8700 |

To find the median sales value for the week, we input:

MEDIAN(Sales)

. With seven data points (an odd number), the function returns 9200, which is the fourth value when the values are arranged in increasing order.

Now, let’s add in the sales for another day:

| Day | Sales ($) | ||| | Mon | 9000 | | Tue | 8500 | | Wed | 9500 | | Thu | 9200 | | Fri | 8800 | | Sat | 9300 | | Sun | 8700 | | Extra| 9100 |

Here,

MEDIAN(Sales)

will interpolate between the middle values, yielding a median of 9150.

The Limitations of the MEDIAN Function

While

MEDIAN

is powerful, it does have its constraints. It’s important to note that this function cannot handle aggregated fields, nor can it process the result of an aggregation function.

Additionally, for datasets with many identical values, the median might not be as indicative of the data’s overall nature as it could be with diverse data values.

Pro Tips for the MEDIAN Function

Use the
```
MEDIAN
```
function when you have outliers in your data that could skew the mean. The median provides a more accurate representation of your typical data point in this case.
When handling an even set of values, consider whether interpolating is the best approach, as different interpretations could yield varying business decisions.

Data analysis and reporting is all about using the right functions, at the right time, to extract the correct information. The

MEDIAN

function in Google Data Studio can be your secret weapon in finding the heart of your data. Remember to respect its limits and make use of every twist and turn to get the most illuminating results!

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