What is the best measure of variability?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the most effective statistical method for measuring variability in data. This could include measures such as range, variance, or standard deviation. The user seeks guidance on which of these measures is generally considered the most informative or useful.
Answer
Standard deviation
The best measure of variability is standard deviation.
Answer for screen readers
The best measure of variability is standard deviation.
More Information
Standard deviation is widely used because it provides a measure of the average distance from the mean and is applicable to quantitative data with a symmetric distribution.
Tips
Ensure the data is not skewed before using standard deviation as it is most appropriate for symmetric data.
Sources
- What are the 4 main measures of variability? - Scribbr - scribbr.com
- Measures of Variability - Online Statistics Book - onlinestatbook.com
- Selecting the Best Measure of Center and/or Variability - Study.com - study.com
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