Assignment Task: What is the difference between a normal distribution and a skewed distribution?
A normal distribution is a frequency distribution represented by a symmetrical bell-shaped curve showing that most of the data are concentrated around the center, which is the mean of the data and distribution. A normal distribution has the data on the center with decreasing amounts distributed to the sides. The skewed distribution is data that goes up on one side and the other with reduced charges changing from left to right (Frankfort-Nachmias, Leon Guerrero, & Davis, 2019). One of the most common differences between normal distribution and skewed is that normal distribution produces a symmetrical spread of data. Still, the skewed distribution can have a variety of graphs (Frankfort-Nachmias, Leon Guerrero, & Davis, 2019).
What causes a skew, and how might a researcher deal with skewed data?
Skewed data creates an asymmetrical, uneven curve on a graph. In statistics, the graph of a data set with normal distribution is symmetrical and shaped like a bell. However, skewed data has a "tail" on either side of the graph. The two most common types of skews are negative and positive. In other words, a researcher can see skewness as a bell curve when data points are not distributed to the sides. If your data is skewed, you can use the mean and median to find the reason by arranging all the values of the data set in order (Keller, 2006).
Under what conditions would it be acceptable to allow skewed variables in a research study?
According to Keller (2006), It may be acceptable to allow skewed variables in a research study when the sample size is sufficiently large, the skewness is not too severe, and the research question is not dependent on normality assumptions. Additionally, skewed variables may be acceptable if the study uses non-parametric statistical methods that do not require normality assumptions.
Questions:
1. What is the difference between a normal distribution and a skewed distribution?
2. What causes a skew and how might a researcher deal with skewed data?
3. Under what conditions would it be acceptable to allow skewed variables in a research study?
References:
Frankfort-Nachmias, C., Leon-Guerrero, A., & Davis, G. (2019). Social statistics for a diverse society (9th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Keller, D. K. (2006). The Tao of statistics: A path to understanding (with no math). SAGE Publications, Inc.