What does standard deviation measure?

• A. The average score in a dataset
• B. The range of values in a set of numbers
• C. The best score in a dataset
• D. The cumulative performance of a group

Answer: (B)

Standard deviation measures the amount of variability or dispersion in a set of values. It indicates how much individual data points differ from the mean (average) of the dataset. A low standard deviation means that the data points tend to be close to the mean, while a high standard deviation indicates that the data points are spread out over a wider range of values.

In contrast, the average score refers to the arithmetic mean of the dataset and the range represents the difference between the highest and lowest values. The best score pertains to the maximum value in the dataset, and cumulative performance evaluates the total output of a group rather than the individual data point variations. By understanding standard deviation, one can gain insights into the consistency and reliability of the data.