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Explain what is meant by the shape of a quantitative variable's distribution and describe the primary characteristics used to identify this shape when scores are plotted.
Question: Explain what is meant by the shape of a quantitative variable's distribution and describe the primary characteristics used to identify this shape when scores are plotted.
Sample answer: The shape of a quantitative variable's distribution describes the visual pattern formed when its scores are plotted, such as in a histogram. This shape is characterized by the number of distinct peaks it contains—such as being unimodal or bimodal—and whether its tails fall symmetrically or are skewed to one side.
Key points:
- The shape is the visual pattern formed when scores are plotted, such as in a histogram.
- It is characterized by the number of distinct peaks (e.g., unimodal or bimodal).
- It is characterized by whether the tails fall symmetrically or are skewed to one side.
Rubric: To receive full credit, the response must: 1) Define distribution shape as the visual pattern formed when scores are plotted (e.g., in a histogram); 2) State that shape is characterized by the number of distinct peaks (e.g., unimodal or bimodal); and 3) State that shape is characterized by whether the tails fall symmetrically or are skewed to one side.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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Unimodal Distribution
Bimodal Distribution
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