When can i use a normal distribution to describe my data?











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I have dataset which is markedly left-skewed, and I wonder if it will be inappropriate to use the normal distribution curve to analyses the data given it's highly skewed?



Picture of my data






statistics normal-distribution data-analysis







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  • More importantly, you data seems to be positive. Normal distribution is almost never suited for such cases.
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:19










  • Do you why that is? :)
    – pete415
    Nov 21 at 16:24










  • What? Why your data is positive? Or why the normal distribution is not suited for positive data? I think both are pretty clear...
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:26










  • How exactly do you want to analyze your data?
    – lisyarus
    Nov 21 at 16:27










  • Can you tell us more about the underlying data? Is it continuous or discrete? Bounded from below/above? It's not clear from the picture
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:31















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












I have dataset which is markedly left-skewed, and I wonder if it will be inappropriate to use the normal distribution curve to analyses the data given it's highly skewed?



Picture of my data






statistics normal-distribution data-analysis







share|cite|improve this question
























  • More importantly, you data seems to be positive. Normal distribution is almost never suited for such cases.
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:19










  • Do you why that is? :)
    – pete415
    Nov 21 at 16:24










  • What? Why your data is positive? Or why the normal distribution is not suited for positive data? I think both are pretty clear...
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:26










  • How exactly do you want to analyze your data?
    – lisyarus
    Nov 21 at 16:27










  • Can you tell us more about the underlying data? Is it continuous or discrete? Bounded from below/above? It's not clear from the picture
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:31













up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











I have dataset which is markedly left-skewed, and I wonder if it will be inappropriate to use the normal distribution curve to analyses the data given it's highly skewed?



Picture of my data






statistics normal-distribution data-analysis







share|cite|improve this question















I have dataset which is markedly left-skewed, and I wonder if it will be inappropriate to use the normal distribution curve to analyses the data given it's highly skewed?



Picture of my data






statistics normal-distribution data-analysis




statistics normal-distribution data-analysis






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Nov 21 at 16:24

























asked Nov 21 at 16:17









pete415

12




12












  • More importantly, you data seems to be positive. Normal distribution is almost never suited for such cases.
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:19










  • Do you why that is? :)
    – pete415
    Nov 21 at 16:24










  • What? Why your data is positive? Or why the normal distribution is not suited for positive data? I think both are pretty clear...
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:26










  • How exactly do you want to analyze your data?
    – lisyarus
    Nov 21 at 16:27










  • Can you tell us more about the underlying data? Is it continuous or discrete? Bounded from below/above? It's not clear from the picture
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:31


















  • More importantly, you data seems to be positive. Normal distribution is almost never suited for such cases.
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:19










  • Do you why that is? :)
    – pete415
    Nov 21 at 16:24










  • What? Why your data is positive? Or why the normal distribution is not suited for positive data? I think both are pretty clear...
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:26










  • How exactly do you want to analyze your data?
    – lisyarus
    Nov 21 at 16:27










  • Can you tell us more about the underlying data? Is it continuous or discrete? Bounded from below/above? It's not clear from the picture
    – Federico
    Nov 21 at 16:31
















More importantly, you data seems to be positive. Normal distribution is almost never suited for such cases.
– Federico
Nov 21 at 16:19




More importantly, you data seems to be positive. Normal distribution is almost never suited for such cases.
– Federico
Nov 21 at 16:19












Do you why that is? :)
– pete415
Nov 21 at 16:24




Do you why that is? :)
– pete415
Nov 21 at 16:24












What? Why your data is positive? Or why the normal distribution is not suited for positive data? I think both are pretty clear...
– Federico
Nov 21 at 16:26




What? Why your data is positive? Or why the normal distribution is not suited for positive data? I think both are pretty clear...
– Federico
Nov 21 at 16:26












How exactly do you want to analyze your data?
– lisyarus
Nov 21 at 16:27




How exactly do you want to analyze your data?
– lisyarus
Nov 21 at 16:27












Can you tell us more about the underlying data? Is it continuous or discrete? Bounded from below/above? It's not clear from the picture
– Federico
Nov 21 at 16:31




Can you tell us more about the underlying data? Is it continuous or discrete? Bounded from below/above? It's not clear from the picture
– Federico
Nov 21 at 16:31










1 Answer
1






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1
down vote



accepted










Your data seems to be non-negative. The normal distribution is almost never well suited for such case. You might want to try a gamma distribution, possibly just an exponential distribution.



Moreover, you should consider if your data is continuous or discrete. In the latter case, you might prefer Poisson distribution or geometric distribution.



If your data is also bounded from above, then beta distribution and binomial distribution are an option.






share|cite|improve this answer























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    1 Answer
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    active

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    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted










    Your data seems to be non-negative. The normal distribution is almost never well suited for such case. You might want to try a gamma distribution, possibly just an exponential distribution.



    Moreover, you should consider if your data is continuous or discrete. In the latter case, you might prefer Poisson distribution or geometric distribution.



    If your data is also bounded from above, then beta distribution and binomial distribution are an option.






    share|cite|improve this answer



























      up vote
      1
      down vote



      accepted










      Your data seems to be non-negative. The normal distribution is almost never well suited for such case. You might want to try a gamma distribution, possibly just an exponential distribution.



      Moreover, you should consider if your data is continuous or discrete. In the latter case, you might prefer Poisson distribution or geometric distribution.



      If your data is also bounded from above, then beta distribution and binomial distribution are an option.






      share|cite|improve this answer

























        up vote
        1
        down vote



        accepted







        up vote
        1
        down vote



        accepted






        Your data seems to be non-negative. The normal distribution is almost never well suited for such case. You might want to try a gamma distribution, possibly just an exponential distribution.



        Moreover, you should consider if your data is continuous or discrete. In the latter case, you might prefer Poisson distribution or geometric distribution.



        If your data is also bounded from above, then beta distribution and binomial distribution are an option.






        share|cite|improve this answer














        Your data seems to be non-negative. The normal distribution is almost never well suited for such case. You might want to try a gamma distribution, possibly just an exponential distribution.



        Moreover, you should consider if your data is continuous or discrete. In the latter case, you might prefer Poisson distribution or geometric distribution.



        If your data is also bounded from above, then beta distribution and binomial distribution are an option.







        share|cite|improve this answer














        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer








        edited Nov 21 at 16:29

























        answered Nov 21 at 16:24









        Federico

        4,087512




        4,087512






























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