What does standard deviation measure in a set of values?

Standard deviation is a statistical measure that quantifies the amount of variation 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 values tend to be close to the mean, while a high standard deviation indicates that the values are spread out over a wider range.

In this context, understanding standard deviation is crucial because it helps to assess the consistency and reliability of a dataset. For example, in fields such as bioscience, understanding the variation in experimental data can lead to better interpretations of results and more informed conclusions.

The other choices refer to different statistical concepts: the average is a measure of central tendency, frequency pertains to mode, and range describes the difference between the highest and lowest values. While these terms are relevant in statistics, they do not capture the essence of what standard deviation represents regarding the variability or diversity of data points within a set.