2.2 Types of frequency distribution

There are four types of frequency distribution table:

• Ungrouped frequency distribution tables
• Grouped frequency distribution tables
• Relative frequency distribution tables
• Cumulative frequency distribution tables

Before describing each type of frequency distribution table, you need to know the difference between ungrouped data and grouped data.

In simple terms, ungrouped data is raw data that has not been categorised or grouped in categories. For example, a manager in a firm knows that 100 employees work in their firm; this is raw data because it does not tell you how many employees work in each department (e.g. buying, production, sales, distribution). However, if you have raw data that is categorised, it is defined as grouped data. For example, if this manager knows that 20 employees work in buying department, 30 in production and 40 in sales and 10 in distribution, then it means that the data is organised in such a way that it provides a clear indication of how many employees work in each department.