Distribution Flashcards
Normal distribution
Gausssian - continuous distribution, bell shaped curve
The distribution psychology definition is ..
is a probability distribution that measures the spread of data. From this, researchers can identify the proportion of data that varies/ differs from the average; most commonly, the mean and standard deviation is reported when measuring distributions.
Shape
The distribution graphs should resemble a bell with its tail extending to each side of the chart. The highest point of the graph is where there is the highest likelihood of the phenomenon occurring.
Central tendency
- The mean, median and mode are important figures used to understand and interpret distribution graphs. The graph can be used to identify how much each value differs from the average. The mean, median and mode values are usually the same in a normally distributed graph.
Variability
- From distribution graphs, researchers can calculate how much each data point varies from the average.
Normal distribution shape detailed
- the graph resembles a bell shape; the highest point of the chart should be at the centre of the chart, the left and right-hand sides of the graph should be symmetrical, and the tail should extend to each side of the graph.
Positively skewed distribution
- the mean, median and mode of distribution are positive, so the graph has a long tail extending to the right, and the highest point of the graph is shifted to the left.
Negatively skewed distribution
- the mean, median and mode of distribution are negative, so the graph has a long tail extending to the left, and the highest point of the graph is shifted to the right.
Standard deviation (SD)
is how much something deviates/ differs from the average.