The data words in a list are grouped into n groups. The grouping is performed by selecting the first code word of the list and every nth code word thereafter to form a first group, and then by selecting the next code word of the list and every nth code word thereafter to form a second group and repeating this selection process until n groups are formed. The maximum/minimum among the data words of each of the n groups is determined, and a data word number of the maximum/minimum is ascertained. Subsequently, an absolute data word number of the maximum/minimum of each of said n groups is determined using the data word number obtained and the group number and n. Finally, the absolute code word is determined by ascertaining the maximum/minimum in the list by comparing the n maximums/minimums of the n groups.