Calculating Probabilities Using the Normal Distribution Function in Excel

This video demonstrates how to calculate the probability of observing specified score ranges using the Normal Distribution function in Microsoft Excel.

[VictoriaSays]

Dr. Grande, I normally follow you for your commentary on criminals, but you are true jack of all trades!

[toniettemorda]

This was an interesting video. I liked how the >= and <= were described showing how the mean and standard deviation can have a probability outcome higher or less than one another. This was straightforward and easy to understand.

[brittanyhoffman]

Thank you for the video Dr. Grande. Calculating probabilities hasn't been something I've used excel for, so it was useful to see how quickly someone can calculate the probability using excel. It is also reassuring to calculate the probability using excel in that you can produce the exact percentages by plugging in the data correctly.

[michellerobinson]

The examples and step by step instructions are very useful.  I will not remember everything but I can follow along and understand the concepts.  The probability is the percentage of seeing a particular score or observation. Excel makes calculating this much easier.  I liked how Dr. Grande shows how to calculate manually as well as how Excel calculates the probability.

[tamarabakergibbons]

The TRUE/FALSE section seemed similar but the FALSE selection was more specific to the number. So where the values fall on the distribution determines the probability percentage. Got it! Thank you for the video.

[Badmonkey]

Thank you for making this video. This is a lot easier than doing it on paper. No more headaches! God bless your soul, sir.

[williamrestrepo]

What a fantastic video. This summarizes a lot in just one table and one simple function. THANK YOU!!!!

[jackiedeleonardis]

A very informative video explanation of how to calculate probabilities. I found it interesting that changing two point values (as with the IQ score) could change the probability so substantially, depending on where the value was on the bell curve.

[ashleydorsey]

This was extremely informative in calculating normal distribution. I agree with my fellow cohorts regarding a hands on activity serving as beneficial. I typically have trouble calculating the normal distribution.

[ashleymogle]

This is a really cool function that I have never used in excel before. I can see how this could be really helpful when conducting research, especially if there is a particular score/desired outcome you are trying to see occur in your sample population.

[thomasstarr]

Never new excel to be so powerful. This explanation makes it really easy to follow and process.

[amandavalentino]

Dr. Grande- This video was very informative on how to calculate probabilities. This information will be useful for me when it is time to analyzing research in the future.

[lisanoland]

Thank you for the information. Using Excel in this way is new to me, and the explanations in addition to the calculations are beneficial.

[kristinblake]

Using excel to calculate probabilities using Normal distribution is a great way to quickly and accurately assess data for occurrences within certain parameters. This would be a great method to use when conducting research to discover how often a specific occurrence takes place within a population or during an experiment.

[thecorgisquad]

I was not familiar with the normal distribution function prior to watching this video to calculate probabilities (unless I forgot it over the past couple years). I also liked how when excel prompts you to put in the values, it shows you in smaller font underneath all of the arguments that are required to carry out the probability function. I would have a tough time remembering exactly which values I needed and in what specific order without the argument key underneath!

[rachelnewberry]

So what I am hearing from your video is, if I wanted to find the probability falls between two scores, I just simply need to subtract the values with and without my one of my ranges. This makes it much simpler than it sounded when you originally proposed that we do the math. I guess sometimes things may sound more complex than they really are. Thank you for your help!

[EMILY]

I had not previously considered that the range can be the same, and the distance of this range from the mean makes a difference. It was interesting to see the probability change.

[aliciazahn]

I was curious about what the "FALSE" function does through the whole video so I am glad Dr. Grande discussed it. I am not sure I completely understand the "TRUE" function though. While I see that that is the one I would typically use, I was not 100% positive of the difference between it and "FALSE" besides the value change. I am thinking it is that "TRUE" gives all of the bell curve value below or above a certain specified score. I thought it was interesting that to get values above a certain score, you have to subtract that score from 1. I am assuming that is because 1 is 100% and however much of the bell curve is below the score would be taken out of 100% leaving the right side of that information on the bell curve. I am trying to follow a normal distribution in my mind but I think if I were to do this function, I would first have the distribution created to reference.

[JoeDirt-elfr]

This was a lot of information and very informative. I understand the calculations, however is sure I need to review this several times before doing it.

[mandabear]

I found this video to be very informative. I think that it was easy to follow and understand especially for me since doing any of these statistics in Excel is new to me as I learned on SPSS. I also thought it served as a good reminder of the importance of knowing if your data is normally distributed as this wouldn't work if it was not.