When analyzing data, what is meant by standard deviation?

Standard deviation is a statistical measure that quantifies the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of data values. It indicates how much individual data points differ from the mean (average) of the data set. 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. This measure is crucial in analyzing data because it helps to understand how consistent or variable the data is, which can impact the reliability of conclusions drawn from the dataset.

In contrast, the average of a data set represents a central point, but it does not provide information about the spread. Similarly, while a measure of central tendency like the mean, median, or mode centers the data, it does not inform about variability. The total number of observations simply counts the data points, offering no insight into their distribution or spread. Thus, standard deviation specifically focuses on the dispersion, making it the correct choice in this context.