Two of the most common recommendations given for preparing Frequency distribution for grouped data or Grouped Frequency Distribution are given below. I have some doubts regarding the same
Firstly why should the interval of a class be uniform along the entire class/groups. Will it not be helpful to have classes which are half of the interval? For example we have a class/group as 130-139, 140-144, 145-149, 150-159 and so on. It is possible that with this varying group we might avoid over representation of a particular class thus avoid the bias that comes from collecting a sample from a large population.
Secondly why is it recommended that the lower boundary of the class be a multiple of the interval? Taking the same example given above, maybe in certain cases it may make sense to have a class of say 135-144, 145-154, 155-164 and so on.
Any help in this would be appreciated.
- All classes or groups should have the same interval. So a class should have a range of say 130-139, 140-149 and so on. Or a range of 500-599, 600-699 and so on.
- The lower boundary of each class or group should be a multiple of the class or group interval. Taking the same example below, the first set of class is a multiple of 10 (i.e. 130-139, 140-149 and so on) while the second set of class is a multiple of 100 (i.e. 500-599, 600-699)
Firstly why should the interval of a class be uniform along the entire class/groups. Will it not be helpful to have classes which are half of the interval? For example we have a class/group as 130-139, 140-144, 145-149, 150-159 and so on. It is possible that with this varying group we might avoid over representation of a particular class thus avoid the bias that comes from collecting a sample from a large population.
Secondly why is it recommended that the lower boundary of the class be a multiple of the interval? Taking the same example given above, maybe in certain cases it may make sense to have a class of say 135-144, 145-154, 155-164 and so on.
Any help in this would be appreciated.