Question

After taking six, 5-point, quizzes during the semester, both Jack and Elaine have an average quiz score of 4.00. However, the standard deviation of Jack’s scores was .96 and Elaine’s standard deviation was .21. What does it mean that Jack and Elaine had the same quiz average but very different standard deviations?

a. Jack was more consistent than Elaine

b. Jack was above the class average but Elaine was below the class mean

c. Jack performed better than Elaine

d. Elaine’s individual quiz scores were closer to her average while Jack’s scores were more variable

Answer 1

Standard deviation gives the variation in data.

If standard deviation is higher , there are more variations in data points.

If standard deviation is lower, then there are less variations in data points. That means the data values are more consistent.

Now, average scores for Jack and Elaine are same that is 4.00 but standard deviation for Jack is more than that of Elaine ( 0.96 > 0.21 )

That means Elaine's individual scores are closer to her average score.

Therefore the correct option is option ( d. )

Elaine's individual quiz scores were closer to her average while Jack's scores were more variable.