Distribution of values
Even when a data set has no outliers or clusters, the distribution
of values also contains useful information. Important features
are:
- The centre or location of the distribution — a 'typical value'
- The spread or variability of the distribution
- Whether a distribution is symmetric or skew — do the tails appear similar at both sides?
- Other aspects of the shape of the distribution
The
concepts of centre and spread are particularly important.