statistical infrequency

Question 1

statistical infrequency

Answer 1

when an individual has a less common characteristic (numerically rare, 2 standard deviations away from the mean) e.g. being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the population

Question 2

normal distribution

Answer 2

When the majority of people’s scores will cluster around the average, and the further you go above or below that average, fewer people will attain that score

Question 3

Positive skew

Answer 3

When the majority of people’s scores will cluster around lower values

Question 4

negative skew

Answer 4

When the majority of people’s scores will cluster around higher values

Question 5

evaluation points for statistical infrequency

Answer 5

• weakness from desirability
• weakness from being culturally relative
• weakness from being labelled as abnormal
• strength from clinical assessment

Question 6

weakness of statistical infrequency from desirability

Answer 6

• there are many statistically infrequent behaviours that are desirable e.g. IQ over 150
• there are some statistically frequent behaviours that are undesirable e.g. 10% of people will be depressed at a point in their lives
• therefore we are unable to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours so therefore which ones need treatment
• therefore the definition should never be used alone when making a diagnosis

Question 7

weakness of statistical infrequency from it being culturally relative

Answer 7

• behaviours that are statistically frequent in one culture may not be in another
• e.g. hearing voices in schizophrenia - some cultures its normal after a loved one dies
• so lacks external validity so shouldnt be applied outside of the culture it was created in without caution

Question 8

weakness from being labelled as abnormal

Answer 8

• if someone is living a happy life, there is no benefit to labelling them as abnormal regardless of the unusualness
• e.g. low IQ who isn’t distressed would not need a diagnosis as it might have a negative effect on the way they are viewed by themselves and others
• therefore it could cause unnecessary psychological harm so cost benefit analysis should be applied before labelling abnormality

Question 9

strength of statistical infrequency from being used in clinical assessment

Answer 9

• real life application of being used in diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder
• therefore there is a place for statistical infrequency when considering abnormality
• therefore externally valid as its usefully applied to aid clinical assessments