Research Topics:

Data Analysis | Quantitative Research

Content Type:

Glossary

Frequency Distribution Definition

An organized display of a set of data that shows how often each different piece of data occurs.

Frequency distribution is an organized display of a set of data showing how often each piece of data occurs. This statistical representation illustrates the frequency of various values within a dataset by sorting data into discrete intervals or categories. In marketing research, frequency distribution helps analyze the distribution of customer behaviors, preferences, purchase patterns and other relevant metrics. These insights reveal trends and patterns. The process of frequency distribution simplifies complex datasets into a clear visual or tabular format that easily identifies customer patterns, preference and trends. What’s more, the distribution's ability to spotlight outliers can highlight niche markets. Simply put, frequency distribution is a foundational tool for evidence-based marketing decisions.

Who relies on frequency distribution?

Marketing and business professionals seeking data-driven insights benefit from frequency distribution analysis. For instance, marketing professionals rely on frequency distributions to better understand customer segments, target audience preferences and buying behaviors. In addition, researchers make use of the concept to summarize survey responses and identify opinions. Product managers use distribution data to gauge product demand across different demographics. 

Why should I care about frequency distribution?

Frequency distribution measures how often specific customer behaviors or preferences occur. For example, data and insight resulting from this distribution helps identify outliers and rare occurrences, potentially highlighting unique market segments or emerging trends.