What does the mean mean?

The arithmetic mean is a fundamental statistical concept. Unfortunately, social science students rarely develop an intuitive understanding of the mean and rely on the formula to describe or define it. According to constructivist pedagogy, educators that have access to a variety of conceptualizations of a particular concept are better equipped to teach that concept in a meaningful way. With this in mind, this article outlines five conceptualizations of the arithmetic mean and discusses how each conceptualization can be presented in the classroom. Educators can use these conceptualizations in order to foster insight into the mean.