Objective vs Subjective Language

[Vermonter]

I suppose one could say typical instead - until that becomes flagged - or say many of the homes have vinyl siding -

But why play along with this idiocy? As you point out it's just going to continue

 

[sputnam]

Weird-

Definition of AVERAGE

a single value (such as a mean, mode, or median) that summarizes or represents the general significance of a set of unequal values; mean; an estimation of or approximation to an arithmetic mean… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

If your subject is in a neighborhood of 50 homes and 45 have the same vinyl siding is it subjective or objective to say vinyl siding is average for the neighborhood?

Depends. If you have defined your use of 'average' as the mode.... then it's objectively true. In common usage, people will think that you mean the sum divided by the number... the mean. The key is to be specific. There's no rule that requires you to say 'average'. You could, as suggested, say 'typical'. Or you could say that '45 of 50 dwellings in the subject neighborhood have vinyl siding'. Or you could say 'mode'... although if you say 'mode' some people won't know what you are talking about.

 

[Vermonter]

There's no rule that requires you to say 'average'. You could, as suggested, say 'typical'.

The point is that in time neither will be acceptable and you will have to use "45 out of 50". Meaning they don't want our professional opinion, they want raw data only.

You can probably guess why

 

[alebrewer]

Ever review a report where they just ignored an externality because then they would have had to analyze it?

Someone probably could have gotten away with that before Google earth - not so much any longer...

 

[J Grant]

The point is that in time neither will be acceptable and you will have to use "45 out of 50". Meaning they don't want our professional opinion, they want raw data only.

You can probably guess why

I don't agree. They still want our professional opinion; just raw data with no analysis or context is not acceptable either. However, they want the support of data or a statement of context for certain comparisons that might be construed as either biased or subjective. Granted that the partricalurs of it are approaching the inane.

 

[Vermonter]

They still want our professional opinion; just raw data with no analysis or context is not acceptable either.

For now, but if they don't trust our professional opinion for data (interior pics, ANSI, no "subjective" terms, etc), it won't be long before they don't trust it for our professional opinion of market value.

 

[Sadie]

Technically, it's not, but why let that stop the word police

Average can be subjective. Average to you may mean good to someone else. You can use it but explain what you mean. Average for a high priced neighborhood is very good for not high priced neighborhood.

 

[Vermonter]

Average can be subjective. Average to you may mean good to someone else. You can use it but explain what you mean. Average for a high priced neighborhood is very good for not high priced neighborhood.

Yes we all know the subjective examples of the word "average". My point is there are places in an appraisal report where "average" can be used objectively.

 

[Sadie]

Yes we all know the subjective examples of the word "average". My point is there are places in an appraisal report where "average" can be used objectively.

I think we all do. And I would venture to say that 'average' is explained somewhere in the addendum. Without an explanation, the only way to use average objectively is in a mathematical or statistical situation. As in the average of a set of #s.

 

[sputnam]

The point is that in time neither will be acceptable and you will have to use "45 out of 50". Meaning they don't want our professional opinion, they want raw data only.

You can probably guess why

i disagree. Some may want the raw data. More just want non subjective information... like....'the majority of...' or '90%...' They usually don't care about the details.... just keep them in the work file.