FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION GRAPHS 2.

Polygons
To construct a polygon, you begin by listing the
A frequency distribution graphs is basically a picture of numerical scores along the X-axis, then:
information available in a frequency distribution table. We
start with two perpendicular lines called axes. The vertical a. A dot is centered above each score so the
line is called the Y- axis, or ordinate and the horizontal line is vertical position of the dot corresponds to the
called X-axis. The measurement scale (set of values) is listed frequency for each category
along the X- axis in increasing value from left to right. b. A continuous line is drawn from dot to dot to
Frequencies are listed on the Y-axis in increasing value from connect the series of dots.
bottom to top. As a general rule, the point where the two c. The graph is completed by drawing a line down
axes intersect should have a value of zero for both the scores to the X – axis (zero frequency) at each end of
and the frequencies. the range of scores. The final lines are usually
drawn so that they reach the X-axis at a point
Graphs for interval or ratio data
that is one category below the lowest score on
1. Histogram the left side and one category above the highest
score on the right side.
To construct the histogram, you first list the numerical
scores along the X-axis. Then you draw a bar above X e.g. using the same data:
value so that:
x f
a. The height of the bar corresponds to the frequency 6 1
for that category 5 2
b. The width of the bar extends to the real limits of the 4 2
category. 3 4
e.g. 2 2
1 1
x f
6 1
5 2
4 2
3 4
2 2
1 1

THE SHAPE OF FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION

Rather than drawing a complete frequency distribution

graph, researchers often describe a distribution by listing its
characteristics. Three characteristics completely describe any
distribution: shape, central tendency, and variability. Nearly
all distributions can be classified as being either symmetrical
or skewed.
In a symmetrical distribution, it is possible to draw a vertical
line through the middle so that one side of the distribution is
a mirror image of the other.
In a Skewed distribution, the scores tend to pile up toward
one end of the scale and taper off gradually at the other end.
The section where the scores taper off toward one end of a
distribution is called the tail of the distribution.
A skewed distribution with the tail on the right hand side is
said to be positively skewed because the tail points toward
the positive (above zero) end of the X-Axis. If the tail points to
the left, the distribution is said to be negatively skewed.
Note that in a very difficult exams, where most scores tend to
be low with only a few individuals earning high scores will
produce a positively skewed distribution. Likewise, a very
easy exam where most students earn a high score and only a
few with low values will produce a negatively skewed
distribution.
Learning Check:
Make a histogram and polygon for the following data:
x f
5 4
4 5
3 3
2 1
1 1
Describe the shape of the distribution
Percentile Point (sometimes refer to as percentile) and
Percentile Rank
The rank or percentile rank of a particular score is defines as
the percentage of individuals in the distribution with scores
at or below a particular value.
Percentile rank –refers to a percentage
Percentile point/ percentile – refers to a score
Percentile rank and percentile describes an individual’s
exact position within the distribution.
CUMMULATIVE FREQUENCY AND CUMULATIVE Note: getting the percentile point is similar to getting the
PERCENTAGE median

To determine percentile or percentile rank, the first step is to

find the number of individuals who are located at or below
each point in the distribution. This can be done by simply
counting the number of individuals in or below each category
e.g. In getting what score corresponds to the 50th percentile
on a scale. The resulting values are called cumulative
(50th percentile is of course same as median)
frequencies because they represent the accumulation of
individuals as you move up the scale.

The cumulative frequencies show the number of individuals P 50 = L.B. + N (.50) - < cf b i
located at or below each score. To find percentiles, we must
convert these frequencies into percentages. The resulting f
values are called cumulative percentages because they show
P50 = 59.5 + 42 (.50) – 12 5
the percentage of individuals who are accumulated as you
move up the scale. 9

Cum % = cf /N x 100% P50 = 59.5 + 21 – 12 5

class P50 = 59.5 + 5

interval midpoint f < cf cum %
90 - 94 92 1 42 100.00 P 50 = 64.5 (meaning 64.5 is the score that corresponds to 50th
85 - 89 87 1 41 97.62 percentile)
80 - 84 82 1 40 95.24
What is the score that corresponds to 25th percentile?
75 - 79 77 4 39 92.86
70 - 74 72 3 35 83.33 P25 = L.B. + N (.x) - <cf b i
65 - 69 67 11 32 76.19
F
60 - 64 62 9 21 50.00
55 - 59 57 5 12 28.57 P25= 54.5 + (42 (.25) - 7) 5
50 - 54 52 1 7 16.67
5
45 - 49 47 3 6 14.29
40 - 44 42 1 3 7.14 P25= 54.5 + (10.5 - 7) 5
35 - 39 37 1 2 4.76
30 - 34 32 0 1 2.38 5
25 - 29 27 1 1 2.38 P25= 54.5 + 3.5
42
P25= 58

Formula for getting the percentile point:

P# = L.B. + N (.x) - <cf b i What is the score that corresponds to 87th percentile?

F P87 = L.B. + N (.x) - <cf b i

Where N = total number of cases F

X = percentage P87 = L.B. + 42 (.87) - 35 5

4
P87 = 74.5+ 36.54 - 35 5 Prank = 12 + 1.8 (5) X 100

4 42

P87 = 74.5 + 1.925 Prank = 21 X 100

P87 = 76.42 42

Percentile rank Prank = 21 X 100

class 42
interval midpoint f < cf cum %
90 - 94 92 1 42 100.00 Prank = 50%
85 - 89 87 1 41 97.62 Prank of score 64.5 = 50 %
80 - 84 82 1 40 95.24
75 - 79 77 4 39 92.86
70 - 74 72 3 35 83.33
What is the percentile rank of score 58?
65 - 69 67 11 32 76.19
60 - 64 62 9 21 50.00 Prank = cumfb + (f/i) (X – XL) X 100
55 - 59 57 5 12 28.57
N
50 - 54 52 1 7 16.67
45 - 49 47 3 6 14.29 Prank = 7+ (5/5) (58– 54.5) X 100
40 - 44 42 1 3 7.14
42
35 - 39 37 1 2 4.76
30 - 34 32 0 1 2.38 Prank = 7+ 3.5 X 100
25 - 29 27 1 1 2.38
42 42

Prank = 25%
Prank = cumfb + (f/i) (X – XL) X 100
What is the percentile rank of score 76.42?
N
Prank = cumfb + (f/i) (X – XL) X 100
Cum fb – cumulative frequency before
N
F – frequency
Prank = 35 + (4/5) (76.42 – 74.5) X 100
I = class interval size
42
X = score
Prank = 35 + (.8) (1.92) X 100
XL = lower boundary of the class that contains the score
42

Prank = 35 + 1.536 X 100

What is the percentile rank of the score 64.5?
42
Prank = cumfb + (f/i) (X – XL) X 100
Prank = 36.536 X 100
N
42
Prank = 12 + (9/5) (64.5 – 59.5) X 100
Prank = 0.869904761 X 100
42
Prank = 86.99% or 87%
Measures of Central Tendency: scores Xi f fxi
55 - 59 57 1 57
1. Mean
2. Median 50 - 54 52 1 52
3. Mode 45 - 49 47 3 141
40 - 44 42 4 168
The goal of central tendency is to find the single value that 35 - 39 37 6 222
best represents the entire distribution
30 - 34 32 7 224
Mean – the balancing point of the distribution; considered as 25 - 29 27 12 324
the center of gravity of the distribution; it is used when the 20 - 24 22 6 132
distribution id normal and is appropriate for interval ad ratio 15 - 19 17 8 136
variables. 10 -14 12 2 24
N=
Disadvantages: 50 1480

Mean is affected by extreme scores, hence not appropriate

for skewed distributions. If the distributionis skewed, the X = Σfxi/N
scores are very different in value from most of the others,
= 1480/50
then the mean will not be a good representative of the
majority in the distribution. = 29.6

e.g. 2 3 3 4 7 9 10 86 X = Xi + (Σfd/N)i

presence of extreme score greatly affects the value of the Where: Xi = midpoint
mean
Σ = summation
mean = 15
Fd = frequency times deviation
Median = 7
I = class interval size
Formula for the mean:

a. for ungrouped data:

scores f d fd
X = Σx/N 55 - 59 1 4 4
50 - 54 1 3 3
e.g. scores of student on a 10 trial test:
45 - 49 3 2 6
13, 17, 15, 11, 13, 11, 17, 13, 11, 11 40 - 44 4 1 4
35 - 39 6 0 0
X = 132/10 30 - 34 7 -1 -7
X = 13.2 25 - 29 12 -2 -24
20 - 24 6 -3 -18
b. for grouped data 15 - 19 8 -4 -32
10 -14 2 -5 -10
X = Σfxi/N
N = 50 -74
Where: Σ = summation

f = frequency X = Xi + (Σfd/N)i

= 37 + (-74/50)5
Xi = midpoint
=37 + -7.4
N = number of cases
= 29.6
Try placing the 0 to another class interval step. Would you get the Where:
same value if the hypothetical mean is 42?
LB = lower boundary
scores f d fd
N/2 = ½ of N
55 - 59 1 3
50 - 54 1 2 <cfb = less than cumulative frequency before

45 - 49 3 1 I = class interval size

40 - 44 4 0
35 - 39 6 -1
30 - 34 7 -2
scores xi f <cf
25 - 29 12 -3
55 - 59 57 1 50
20 - 24 6 -4
50 - 54 52 1 49
15 - 19 8 -5
45 - 49 47 3 48
10 -14 2 -6
40 - 44 42 4 45
N = 50
35 - 39 37 6 41
30 - 34 32 7 35
Show your solution here: 25 - 29 27 12 28
20 - 24 22 6 16
15 - 19 17 8 10
10 -14 12 2 2
N =50

Median = LB + ((N/2 - < cfb)/f)i

LB = 24.5 + ((25 – 16)/12)5

= 24.5 + 3.75

= 28.25
Median – unlike the mean it does not incorporate all the values; it is
the value that divides the distribution in half, 50 % above it and 50%
below it.

When the scores are in ascending order, if there is an odd number of

Mode = the most frequent/ or popular score; appropriate for
scores, the median is the middle score. If there is an even number of
nominal data
scores get the average of middle scores.

e.g. 5, 7, 20, 24, 25 median = 20

Formula:
5, 7, 20, 24, 25, 28 median = 22
Mode = LB + (d1/d1+d2)i
The median is appropriate for ordinal data; The median is preferred
for skewed distribution because regardless of the asymmetry, it is
D1 = difference between the f of the modal class and the next lower
always the middle value.
class

D2 = difference between the f of the modal class and the next higher
class
e.g. 5, 7, 20, 24, 25 Median = 20 (mean = 16.2)

10, 15, 20, 52, 63 Median = 20 (mean = 32)

Formula for grouped data:

Median = LB + ((N/2 - < cfb)/f)i

 scores f
55 - 59 1
50 - 54 1
45 - 49 3
40 - 44 4
35 - 39 6
30 - 34 7
25 - 29 12
20 - 24 6
15 - 19 8
2
N =50

Mode = LB + (d1/d1+d2)i

= 24.5 + (6/6+5)5

= 24.5 + 2.727

= 27.23