Why use robust Coefficient of variation?

Robust statistics provide an alternative approach to classical statistical estimators

such as mean, standard deviation (SD), and percent coefficient of variation

(%CV). These alternative procedures are more resistant to the statistical

influences of outlying events in a sample population-hence the term "robust."

Real data sets often contain gross outliers, and it is impractical to systematically

attempt to remove all outliers by gating procedures or other rule sets.

The robust equivalent of the mean statistic is the median. The robust SD is

designated rSD and the percent robust CV is designated %rCV. For perfectly

normal distributions, classical and robust statistics give the same results.

Saleh Khudirat, PhD