Bandwidth
Definition
The smoothing parameter in a kernel density estimate. A small bandwidth produces a jagged curve that follows every data point; a large bandwidth over-smooths and can merge distinct subpopulations. Silverman's rule of thumb provides a common default: h = 0.9 min(s, IQR/1.34) n^(-1/5).
Related terms
- Box plot (box-and-whisker plot)
- A graphic showing the five-number summary of a distribution: the minimum, first quartile (Q1), median (Q2), third quartile (Q3), and maximum. Whiskers...
- Histogram
- A bar chart in which data are grouped into contiguous equal-width intervals (bins) and the bar height represents the count or relative...
- Interquartile range (IQR)
- The difference between the third quartile and the first quartile: IQR = Q3 - Q1. It measures the spread of the central...
- Kernel density estimate (KDE)
- A non-parametric smooth probability density function fitted to a set of measurements by placing a kernel (usually Gaussian) over each data point...
- Scatter plot
- A two-dimensional graph in which each observation is plotted as a point at coordinates (x, y), where x and y are two...
Explained in
- Visualising Forensic DataThe smoothing parameter in a kernel density estimate. A small bandwidth produces a jagged curve that follows every data point; a large bandwidth over-smooths a...