Probability Distribution

Outline
• The probability distribution
• Binomial and normal distribution
• Normality assessment
• Data transformation
Probability Distribution
• “A probability distribution is a mathematical representation (function)
of the probabilities associated with the values of a random variable.”
• For discrete, discontinuous, binary data: the binomial probability distribution
• For continuous data: the normal distribution
The Binomial Distribution
The Binomial Distribution
• Two parameters:
• the probability of one or the other outcome,
• the number of trials or observations, N
• The probability of the outcome of a binomial experiment consisting of
N trials:
(p+q)N
• p: the probability of success
• q: the probability of failure
The Binomial Distribution
• Three coin tosses  possible
results: N+1=4
• Three heads
• Two heads and one tail
• Two tails and one head
• Three tails
The Binomial Distribution
The Binomial Distribution
The Binomial Distribution
• Three patients receiving
antibiotics  possible results:
N+1=4
1. Three cures
2. Two cures and one failure
3. Two failures and one cure
4. Three failures
The Binomial Distribution
• Four patients receiving
antibiotics, p=0.75, q=.25
The Binomial Distribution
The Binomial Distribution
The Normal Distribution
• A continuous probability distribution and consists of an infinite
number of values.
• Scientific data from pharmaceutical experiments cannot possibly fit
this definition.
• Nevertheless, if real data conform reasonably well with the
theoretical definition of the normal curve, adequate approximations,
if not very accurate estimates of probability, can be computed based
on normal curve theory.
The Normal Distribution
The Normal Distribution
The Normal Distribution
The Normal Distribution
The Normal Distribution
standard normal curve, standard score of Z
Z: the number of SDs from the mean
The Normal Distribution
standard normal curve, standard score of Z
Transformation of a value to a standard score
(standardizing):
The Normal Distribution
standard normal curve, standard score of Z
The Normal Distribution
standard normal curve, standard score of Z
Other Common Probability Distributions
• The Poisson distribution
• The Student’s t distribution
• The chi-square (X2) distribution
• The F distribution