An Investigation of the Median-Median Method of Linear Regression

Abstract

Least squares regression is the most common method of fitting a straight line to a set of bivariate data. Another less known method that is available on Texas Instruments graphing calculators is median-median regression. This method is proposed as a simple method that may be used with middle and high school students to motivate the idea of fitting a straight line to data. The median-median line may also be viewed as a method that is not greatly affected by outliers (robust to outliers). Our paper briefly reviews the median-median regression method, considers various examples to compare the median-median line to the least squares line, and investigates the properties of the median-median line versus the least squares line using a simulation study.

• Least squares line

Acknowledgements

We thank the editor and referees who provided comments that greatly improved the manuscript.