Question

A student was studying the political party preferences of a university's student population. The survey instrument asked students to identify their political preference—for example, democrat, republican, libertarian, or another party. The best way to illustrate the relative frequency distribution is a __________.

Answer 1

A student was studying the political party preferences of a university's student population. The survey instrument asked students to identify their political preference—for example, democrat, republican, libertarian, or another party. The best way to illustrate the relative frequency distribution is a percentage or a proportion.

Answer 2

The best way to illustrate the relative frequency distribution is a percentage or a proportion.

For example, imagine that in the survey conducted above 80 people where interviewed and 35 were democrat, 24 republican, 12 libertarian, and 9 chose another party.

• Absolut frequencies would be the number of responses for each option: 35, 24, 12 and 9.
• Relative frequency (democrats) = 35/80 = 0.4375= 43,75 % of the participants
• Relative frequency (republicans)= 24/80= 0.3 = 30% of the participants
• Relative frequency (libertarians)= 12/80= 0.15 = 15% of the participants
• Relative frequency (others)= 9/80= 0.1125 = 11,25 % of the participants