What type of data does a frequency distribution provide?

A frequency distribution provides a summary of how often each value or category occurs in a dataset. This means it captures the frequency of each score, indicating the number of occurrences for each value. It organizes the data in a way that allows for easy interpretation of patterns and trends, making it clearer to see which scores or categories are most common.

This characteristic is essential for both qualitative and quantitative data, as it highlights the distribution of values regardless of their nature. While frequency distributions can be applied to many types of data, the critical aspect is their function in showing frequency, which is the essence of option C.

Other options present narrower focuses that do not encompass the complete utility of frequency distributions. For example, the mention of only quantitative or only qualitative data does not acknowledge that frequency distributions can effectively represent both types. Similarly, stating that data is always normally distributed is inaccurate, as frequency distributions do not assume a specific distribution shape; they merely present the observed frequencies.