Which number tells us the most about how the scores in a frequency distribution are dispersed around the mean?
A) range
B) correlation coefficient
C) standard deviation
D) probability ratio

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The standard deviation tells us how much variability (dispersion) there is in the data relative to the mean. A larger standard deviation indicates that the scores are more spread out, while a smaller standard deviation indicates that the scores are clustered more tightly around the mean. The range only tells us the difference between the highest and lowest scores and does not give us any information about how the scores are distributed in relation to the mean. The correlation coefficient and probability ratio are not measures of dispersion.

Which Number Tells Us the Most About How the Scores