Normalization

Normalization is a process applied in various fields to bring data or systems into a standard or normal state. It is widely used in database management, statistics, sociology, and linguistics.

Database Normalization

In database management, normalization is the process of organizing the attributes and tables of a relational database to minimize redundancy and dependency. The main objectives are to:

• Eliminate redundant data (for example, storing the same data in more than one table)
• Ensure data dependencies make sense (only storing related data in a table)

The process involves dividing large tables into smaller, less redundant tables and defining relationships between them. The most common normal forms are:

• First normal form (1NF)
• Second normal form (2NF)
• Third normal form (3NF)
• Boyce-Codd normal form (BCNF)

Statistical Normalization

In statistics, normalization refers to the process of adjusting values measured on different scales to a common scale. This is often done to allow for comparison between datasets. Common methods include:

• Z-score normalization
• Min-max normalization
• Decimal scaling

Sociological Normalization

In sociology, normalization refers to the process through which ideas and behaviors that may fall outside of social norms come to be regarded as "normal." This can occur through various means, including media, education, and policy changes.

Linguistic Normalization

In linguistics, normalization involves standardizing language usage. This can include the development of a standard language from dialects, the establishment of grammatical rules, and the promotion of a standard form of a language.

Related Pages

• Database management system
• Relational database
• Data redundancy
• Standard score
• Social norms
• Standard language