To find the median of the given data set, follow these steps:

1. Organize the data in ascending order: $12, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 32, 32, 33, 36, 37, 39, 40, 40$

2. Count the total number of elements (n): There are 16 elements.

3. Determine the position of the median:

   • Since $n = 16$ (even number), the median is the average of the two middle numbers.
   • The two middle numbers are the 8th and 9th elements in the sorted list.

4. Find the 8th and 9th elements: The 8th element is $27$, and the 9th element is $32$.

5. Calculate the median: $\text{Median} = \frac{27 + 32}{2} = \frac{59}{2} = 29.5$

Thus, the median of the data set is 29.5.

Do you want details or have any questions?
Here are 5 related questions for further exploration:

1. How is the median affected if one value in the data set is changed?
2. What is the difference between the median and the mean of this data set?
3. How can you find the mode(s) of the data set?
4. What happens to the median if the data set size is odd instead of even?
5. How can you quickly identify outliers in a data set?

Tip: When finding the median, always ensure the data set is fully sorted first!