when a data set is unimodal, a median split of the data is inappropriate. course hero

by Mrs. Krystel Leffler MD 3 min read

What is a median split in statistics?

A category split means respondents below the observed median go into one category and respondents above the median go into another. When a data set is bimodal, a median split of the data will lead to error.

What is a unimodal distribution in statistics?

Unimodal distribution is when the data set has a single mode. Professor Greenfield's first class, the one that scored primarily B's on the math test, would be considered a unimodal distribution. Sometimes, a single mode doesn't describe the data properly. Take Professor Greenfield's second class for example.

How can professor Greenfield describe his data using unimodal distribution?

Professor Greenfield can describe his data using unimodal and bimodal distribution. Unimodal distribution is when the data set has a single mode, like the professor's first class that scored mostly B's. Bimodal distribution is where the data set has two different modes, like the professor's second class that scored mostly B's and D's equally.

Which set of data has a bimodal distribution?

Because this set of data has two numbers that appear the most, it is considered to have bimodal distribution. Be careful when you are looking at bimodal distribution. You must have two distinct peaks of numbers. Look at this data set: 4, 6, 2, 10, 4, 7, 6, 4, 9, 7.

What are the mean, median, and mode of a symmetrical distribution?

In a symmetrical distribution, the mean, median, and mode are all equal.

What is a unimodal distribution?

A unimodal distribution is a probability distribution with one clear peak. This is in contrast to a bimodal distribution, which has two clear peaks: This is also in contrast to a multimodal distribution, which has two or more peaks: Note: A bimodal distribution is just a specific type of multimodal distribution.

What is mean in a left skewed distribution?

In a left skewed distribution, the mean is less than the median.

What is a simple tabulation of a variable's frequency distribution called?

A simple tabulation of a variable's frequency distribution is sometimes called a marginal tabulation.

Why are row and column totals called subtotals?

The row and column totals in a contingency table are called subtotals because they are less than the total.

What is the process of assigning a numerical score or other character symbol to previously edited data?

Coding is the process of assigning a numerical score or other character symbol to previously edited data.

What is combining data from adjacent categories of a Likert scale item?

Combining the data from adjacent categories of a Likert-scale item is a common form of data transformation.

What is the third variable in an analysis?

When a third variable inserted into the analysis changes the results when two other variables were studied previously, this third variable is called a moderator variable.

Examples of Unimodal Distributions

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Here are a few examples of unimodal distributions in practice. Example 1: Birthweight of Babies It’s well known that the distribution of the weights of newborn babies follows a unimodal distribution with an average around 7.5 lbs. If we create a histogram of baby weights, we’ll see a “peak” at 7.5 lbs with some babies weighi…
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Unimodal Distributions in Statistics

  • The following probability distributions in statistics are all unimodal distributions: The Normal Distribution The t-Distribution The Uniform Distribution The Cauchy Distribution Notice that each of these distributions has a single distinct peak.
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How to Analyze Unimodal Distributions

  • We often describe unimodal distributions using three different measures of central tendency: 1. Mean: The average value 2. Median: The middle value 3. Mode: The value that occurs most often Depending on how skewedthe distribution is, these three metrics can be in different places. Left Skewed Distribution:Mean < Median < Mode In a left skewed distr...
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