Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

When a researcher finds a highly homogenous distribution of participant scores, which statistic is likely to be small?

1. Mean

2. Median

3. Standard deviation

4. Confidence interval

The correct answer is: Standard deviation

In a highly homogenous distribution of participant scores, the standard deviation is expected to be small. This is because standard deviation measures the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of scores. When the scores are closely clustered around the mean, indicating little variability among them, the standard deviation reflects this small spread. Essentially, a homogenous distribution means that most scores fall close to each other, leading to less inconsistency and, consequently, a smaller standard deviation. The mean and median, which represent central tendency, may not necessarily be small; they could be any value that reflects the overall scores regardless of their homogeneity. The confidence interval, which estimates the range of values within which the true population parameter is likely to lie, may also not be small, as it depends on additional factors, including sample size and variability. Therefore, focusing on the characteristics of standard deviation clarifies why it is the statistic most likely to be small in this scenario.