relative frequency distribution
a tabular display of the number of observations at each level of a variable compared to the total number of observations obtained. For example, suppose a researcher asks 200 participants to describe their level of extraversion on a 5-point scale and obtains the following results: 32 individuals indicate they are extremely introverted; 24 individuals indicate they are somewhat introverted; 50 individuals indicate they are neither introverted nor extraverted; 38 individuals indicate they are somewhat extraverted; and 56 individuals indicate they are extremely extraverted. In the corresponding relative frequency distribution, these values can be expressed both as proportions—the number of observations per level divided by all observations (i.e., .16, .12, .25, .19, and .28)—and as percentages—the number of observations per level divided by all observations multiplied by 100 (i.e., 16%, 12%, 25%, 19%, and 28%). This type of table is useful in identifying
which scores or values are most likely to occur at which variable level. Also called relative distribution; relative frequency table. See frequency distribution.