Question

describe a situation in which a relatively large standard deviation is desirable.
choose the correct answer below.
a. a group of students learns better when their mean standardized test scores are higher.
b. a class is easier to teach when students standardized test scores have a large standard deviation.
c. a university produces better learning outcomes when its students have diverse backgrounds.
d. a company is more productive when its employees have similar ages.

Explanation:

• Option A: Focuses on mean (average) test scores, not standard deviation (a measure of spread).
• Option B: A large standard deviation in test scores means more spread out scores. A class with very spread - out scores (e.g., some students are very advanced and some are very behind) is harder to teach, not easier.
• Option C: Diverse backgrounds imply a large spread (in terms of various characteristics like culture, prior knowledge etc., which can be thought of in a statistical sense as a large 'spread' or high standard - deviation equivalent in non - numerical diversity terms). A university with diverse students can have better learning outcomes as students can learn from each other's different perspectives.
• Option D: Similar ages imply a small standard deviation (less spread in the age data), which is the opposite of what we want (a situation where a large standard deviation is desirable).

Answer:

C. A university produces better learning outcomes when its students have diverse backgrounds.