This week, we will cover normal distributions, standard scores, and distances from the mean. As you'll read in your text, the normal curve encompasses all scores in a distribution, it's symmetrical, and it's where the mean, median, and mode all equal one another. For example, normal curves are commonly used to standardize intelligence by giving participants an IQ test and finding their score based on how they compare to everyone else their same age in the distribution. 

1. Think of a scenario where the distribution is not normally distributed. How would this affect the shape and characteristics of the distribution, and what implications would it have for interpreting probability values?
2. We can convert any normal distribution into the standard normal distribution to find probability. In hypothesis testing, z-values are often used to determine statistical significance. Discuss the relationship between statistical significance, sample size, and the use of z-values in hypothesis testing.

 omplete the following readings from your textbook, Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences: 

• Chapter 5: z scores
• Chapter 6: Probability
• Chapter 7: Probability and Samples