Which term describes a measure of central tendency that represents the most frequently occurring value in a data set?

The measure of central tendency that represents the most frequently occurring value in a data set is known as the mode. The mode is particularly useful in demonstrating the most common or popular item in a dataset, which can be significant in categorical data where numerical averages (like the mean) are not as informative.

In comparing the options: the mean represents the average of all values and is calculated by summing the values and dividing by the number of observations. The median, on the other hand, indicates the middle value when the data is arranged in ascending order, which can be significantly affected by outliers. The range measures the difference between the highest and lowest values in the dataset, providing insight into the data's spread but not its central tendency.

Thus, the mode is uniquely suited for identifying the most common value, making it the correct choice.