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          • Aims, Hypotheses and Variables
          • Populations and Samples
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            • Descriptive Statistics
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Distribution Curves

Join Aldenham's Quizlet class
Distribution Curves
Variables such as height, weight, shoe size, exam results, and IQ scores – all tend to show normal distribution when plotted on graphs.
​
 In Psychology, this information can help researchers make assumptions about the way in which populations are distributed.
Normal Distribution Curves
= arrangement of data that is symmetrical and forms a bell-shaped pattern.
​The mean, median and/or mode all are shown in the centre at the highest peak.
3 characteristics of normal distributions 
  • Symmetry at the mean value
  • The curve end points or “tails” meet the x-axis
  • The shape of the curve should be bell-shaped.
Picture
Can you apply these 3 characteristics to a graph AND then say what this says about the population / sample?
Skewed Distribution Curves
Skewed distribution curves are called skewed when it is not symmetrical at the mean (or median or mode) point. A skew can be positive or negative.
Picture
OCR's Distribution Curve Workbook 
​can be found here
Picture
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  • Psychology A Level
    • Independent Learning
    • Further and Wider than the A Level
    • Transition >
      • Psych at Uni >
        • Criminology at Uni
        • After Year 13 Pre-Uni Psych Resources
    • OCR Psych A Level >
      • Independent Learning
      • OCR Psych Revision
      • Exams >
        • Past papers >
          • Respect
        • OCR Psych Mock Exams
      • Paper 1: Research Methods >
        • Paper 1: What the paper is like
        • Research Methodology of the Core Studies
        • The 4 main research methods
        • Populations and Samples
        • Ethical Considerations
        • Self-reports
        • Observations
        • Correlations
        • Experiments
        • Reliability and Validity
        • Descriptive Statistics >
          • Distribution Curves
        • Inferential Statistics
        • Reporting, Referencing and Design your Own >
          • Sections of a Psychology Report
          • Harvard Referencing
          • Peer Review
      • Paper 2: Core Studies >
        • Paper 2: What the paper is like
        • Areas and Perspectives >
          • Social Area >
            • Milgram
            • Bocchiaro
            • Piliavin
            • Levine
          • Cognitive Area >
            • Loftus
            • Grant
            • Moray
            • Simons & Chabris
          • Developmental Area >
            • Bandura
            • Chaney
            • Kohlberg
            • Lee
          • Biological Area >
            • Sperry
            • Casey
            • Blakemore and Cooper
            • Maguire
          • Individual Differences Area >
            • Freud
            • Baron Cohen
            • Gould
            • Hancock
          • Behaviourist Perspective
          • Psychodynamic Perspective
        • Debates >
          • Nature v Nurture
          • Free Will v Determinism
          • Reductionism v Holism
          • Individual v Situational
          • Usefulness
          • Ethical Considerations
          • Socially Sensitive Research
          • Psych as a Science
          • Methodological Issues
          • Ethnocentrism
      • Paper 3: Applied Psychology >
        • Issues of Mental Health >
          • Historical Context of Mental Health
          • The Medical Model
          • Alternatives to the Medical Model
        • Paper 3: Options >
          • Child Psychology >
            • Intelligence
            • Pre-adult brain development
            • Perception
            • Cognitive Development
            • Attachment
            • Impact of Advertising
          • Criminal Psychology >
            • What makes a criminal?
            • Forensic Evidence
            • Collection of Evidence
            • Psychology & the Courtroom
            • Crime Prevention
            • Effect of Imprisonment
          • Environmental Psychology
          • Sport and Exercise Psychology
    • AQA Psych A level >
      • Paper 1 >
        • Social Influence
        • Memory
        • Attachment
        • Psychopathology
      • Paper 2 >
        • Approaches
        • Biopsychology
        • Research Methods >
          • Aims, Hypotheses and Variables
          • Populations and Samples
          • Experiments and Experimental Designs
          • Self-reports
          • Ethical Considerations
          • Reliability and Validity
          • Mathematical Skills >
            • Descriptive Statistics
      • Paper 3 >
        • Issues and Debates
        • Relationships / Gender / Cognition
        • Schizophrenia / Eating / Stress
        • Aggression / Forensics / Addiction
  • Sociology A Level
    • AQA Sociology A Level >
      • Education
      • Families and Households
      • Media
      • Crime and Deviance >
        • 8. Globalisation, Green and State Crimes
        • 9. Control, Punishment and Victims
  • For Teachers..