What does a normal probability plot indicate about a dataset?

A normal probability plot, also known as a Q-Q plot, is a graphical tool used to assess whether a dataset follows a normal distribution. When the data is plotted and the points form a straight line, this indicates that the dataset is approximately normally distributed. The linearity of the plot suggests that the quantiles of the observed data closely match those of a theoretical normal distribution, confirming the normality assumption.

In contrast, a curved plot typically suggests deviations from normality, such as skewness or other forms of non-normality, making it unlikely that the data is normally distributed. Therefore, recognizing a linear pattern is key in determining that the dataset aligns with the characteristics of a normal distribution.