When observing skewness, what does a value close to zero indicate?

When observing skewness, what does a value close to zero indicate?

• A. Significant positive skew
• B. Significant negative skew
• C. Symmetrical distribution
• D. High variability

Answer: (C)

A skewness value close to zero indicates a symmetrical distribution. In statistical terms, skewness measures the degree of asymmetry of a distribution around its mean. When the skewness is near zero, it suggests that the distribution is balanced, with the tails on either side of the mean being approximately equal in length and weight. This characteristic is indicative of a normal distribution, where the data points are evenly distributed around the center. In contrast, significant positive or negative skew would be reflected in skewness values that are distinctly above or below zero, indicating an imbalance where one tail is longer or fatter than the other. High variability relates to the spread of the data, which isn’t reflected directly in the skewness measure but rather in the standard deviation or variance. Thus, a skewness value close to zero is a strong indicator of symmetry in the data distribution.

A skewness value close to zero indicates a symmetrical distribution. In statistical terms, skewness measures the degree of asymmetry of a distribution around its mean. When the skewness is near zero, it suggests that the distribution is balanced, with the tails on either side of the mean being approximately equal in length and weight. This characteristic is indicative of a normal distribution, where the data points are evenly distributed around the center.

In contrast, significant positive or negative skew would be reflected in skewness values that are distinctly above or below zero, indicating an imbalance where one tail is longer or fatter than the other. High variability relates to the spread of the data, which isn’t reflected directly in the skewness measure but rather in the standard deviation or variance. Thus, a skewness value close to zero is a strong indicator of symmetry in the data distribution.