What does high standard deviation indicate about test results?

High standard deviation indicates that the results differ significantly from the average. In statistical terms, standard deviation measures the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values. A high standard deviation suggests that the test scores are spread out over a wider range of values, meaning that there is a greater diversity in the results. This could imply that some test results are much higher or much lower than the average, indicating variability in the performance or outcomes being measured.

In contrast, if the standard deviation were low, it would suggest that the results are clustered closely around the average, indicating consistency among the test results. Therefore, recognizing a high standard deviation is crucial for understanding the reliability and variability of data, especially in contexts such as radon mitigation, where individual results can significantly impact remediation strategies.