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The Normal Distribution

Jodi Martin, PhD

Image taken from https://mathwithbaddrawings.com/2018/08/15/the-bubble-under-the-mathematical-rug/

 Describe a normal distribution in terms of its
definition and features

Identify how changes in μ and/or σ change the

shape or position of a normal distribution
LEARNING
OUTCOMES Discuss the characteristics of the standard
normal distribution

Find proportions/percentages associated with

scores or a range of scores using the unit normal
table
 What is a Normal Distribution?

 A distribution based on a population of

an infinite number of scores calculated
from a mathematical formula

 A family of theoretical distributions that

can be used to describe populations of
scores for many psychological and
educational phenomena
 Features of a Normal Distribution

 Left and right tails continue to infinity

and do not touch the x-axis
(asymptotic tails)

 Unimodal and symmetric (bell-shaped)

 Mean = population mean (μ)

 Standard deviation = population

standard deviation (σ)
 Is there only one normal distribution?

 Changes to μ or σ will result in changes to the shape of the normal distribution

 Why are Normal Distributions Important?

 Many variables are believed to be

normally distributed in the population
(i.e., height, IQ, employee performance)

 Most inferential statistics assume

variables are normally distributed

 It is possible to determine the

proportion of scores in a normal
distribution that are associated with any
given score
 The Standard Normal Distribution

 This is a normal distribution of z-scores

 Features:
 asymptotic tails
 unimodal and symmetric
 Mean, μ = 0
 Standard deviation, σ = 1

 Used to determine proportion or percentage of

the distribution that is associated with a score or
range of scores

Image taken from https://mathwithbaddrawings.com/2018/08/15/the-bubble-under-the-mathematical-rug/

 The Standard Normal Distribution

34.13%

2.28%
13.59%

68.26%
95.44%
 Using the Standard Normal Distribution
𝑋−𝜇
Recall: 𝑧 =
𝜎

The mean of a national examination is μ = 500 400 − 500 −100

with a standard deviation of σ = 100. Two 𝑧= = = −𝟏. 𝟎𝟎
students scored 400 and 650 on the exam. 100 100

Where are the students’ scores located? 650 − 500 150

𝑧= = = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟎
100 100

Two additional questions to answer:

1) What percentage of students scored less than 650 on the national exam?
2) What percentage of students scored between 400 and 650 on the national exam?
 Using the Standard Normal Distribution

Proportion
in body (B)

Unit Normal Table Proportion

Note: Full table is on in tail (C)
eClass

Proportion
between
mean and z-
score (D)
Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.
 Using the Standard Normal Distribution
 What percentage of students scored less than 650 on the national exam?
650 − 500 150
𝑧= = = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟎
100 100
p(X<650) = p(z<1.50) = .9332
Percentage = .9332 X 100 = 93.32%
 Using the Standard Normal Distribution
 What percentage of students scored between 400 and 650 on the national exam?

400 − 500 −100

𝑧= = = −𝟏. 𝟎𝟎
100 100
650 − 500 150
𝑧= = = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟎
100 100

P(z btwn. -1.00 & Mean) = .3413

P(z btwn. Mean & 1.50) = .4332
P(X btwn 400 & 650) = P(z btwn. -1.00 & 1.50) = .3413 + .4332
P(X btwn 400 & 650) = .7745
Percentage (X btwn 400 & 650) = .7745 X 100 = 77.45%
 What you oughta know…

 A normal distribution is a theoretical distribution of population data with

asymptotic tails, unimodal, mean = μ, standard deviation = σ

 The standard normal distribution is a normal distribution of z-scores

 mean = 0, standard deviation = 1

 Within the standard normal distribution, specific proportions/percentages

of the distribution are associated with specific z-scores or ranges of z-
scores

 The unit normal table summarizes the proportion/percentage of scores in

the body, tail or between μ and z for z-scores between 0 and ±4
 References

Gravetter, F.J., & Wallnau, L.B. (2017). Statistics for the behavioural sciences (10th
edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Tokunaga, H.T. (2019). Fundamental statistics for the social and behavioural
sciences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.