What does low standard deviation signify about the spread of values?

A low standard deviation indicates that the values in a dataset are closely clustered around the mean or average value. This means that there is little variation among the individual data points; most of the data points are relatively similar in value. In contrast, a high standard deviation would suggest a wide range of values that are more dispersed from the mean.

When the standard deviation is low, it reflects consistency and reliability in the data, making it easier to make predictions or assumptions about the population being studied. It signifies that the observed values do not deviate significantly from the average, which can be an important characteristic when analyzing trends or evaluating performance in various contexts, such as educational assessments or statistical research.