Frequency

Frequency is the number of times a value of the data occurs. A frequency table lists the different categories of data and the number of observations (the frequency) of each unique value of that variable. The frequency is commonly referred to as the count.

Frequency Tables and Bar Graphs Using the Statistical Tool

For small data sets, you can easily create a frequency table manually. However, when working with larger data sets, it’s much more efficient to use technology to generate and display the frequency tables.

One of the most commonly used graphs for visualizing the distribution of a categorical variable is a bar graph.

bar graph

In a bar graph, categories are represented by bars that are separated from each other. The bars can be vertical or horizontal and the height or length of each bar represents the measure of the data in each category. Bars can represent frequencies, relative frequencies (proportion), or percentages.

Use the data analysis tool below to create a frequency table.

Follow these steps:

STEP 1: Choose the data set “Sleep Study: Lark vs. Owl.”

STEP 2: The frequency table will appear to the right.

STEP 3: (Optional) You can change the order of the categories by selecting “Customize Order” under “Options” to rearrange the frequency table.

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