What does a high standard deviation indicate about a dataset?

A high standard deviation in a dataset indicates that the data points are highly dispersed, meaning there is a wide spread of values around the mean. When the standard deviation is large, it signifies that the individual data points tend to deviate significantly from the average, suggesting greater variability within the dataset. This dispersion can reflect the presence of values that are much higher or lower than the mean, illustrating that the data does not cluster closely around a single value.

In contrast to a low standard deviation, which would suggest that data points are concentrated near the mean, a high standard deviation illustrates a broad range of values. This is important in understanding the distribution of the data and the variability within the dataset. By recognizing this characteristic of high standard deviation, one gains insights into the nature of the data and its potential implications in analysis and decision-making.