diff --git a/normalize_data.py b/normalize_data.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..117d2fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/normalize_data.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Sebastian Raschka, 03/2014
+
+def normalize_val(x, data_list):
+    """
+    Normalizes a value to a data list returning a float
+    between 0.0 and 1.0. 
+    Returns the original object if value is not a integer or float.
+    
+    """
+    if isinstance(x, float) or isinstance(x, int):
+        numerator = x - min(data_list)
+        denominator = max(data_list) - min(data_list)
+        return numerator/denominator
+    else:
+        return x