Analyzing Data Patterns
After collecting data, researchers need tools to make sense of it all. Three key concepts help them do this: central tendency, variation, and frequency distribution.
Central tendency measures help find the "middle" of your data. The mean is the mathematical average, the mode is the most common value, and the median is the exact middle value when data is arranged in order. These three values give researchers a quick snapshot of typical responses.
However, knowing the average isn't enough—we also need to understand how spread out the data is. That's where variation comes in. The range simply shows the span from lowest to highest values, while standard deviation tells us how far, on average, data points are from the mean. A high standard deviation means data is widely scattered.
Most natural human traits follow a normal distribution (bell curve), where most values cluster around the middle. However, real data often shows a positive skew (with more values toward the lower end) or a negative skew (with more values toward the higher end). Understanding these patterns helps researchers interpret their findings accurately.
🔍 Remember: When the distribution is perfectly normal, the mean, median, and mode are all at the same point—right in the middle of the bell curve!