Which of the following indicates the degree to which data points deviate from the mean?

The standard deviation is a statistical measure that quantifies the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of data points. It indicates how spread out the values are in relation to the mean, which is the average of the dataset. A low standard deviation means that the data points tend to be close to the mean, while a high standard deviation indicates that the data points are spread out over a wider range of values.

In the context of mass appraising, understanding the standard deviation is crucial because it helps appraisers assess the reliability of their data. A dataset with a small standard deviation suggests that the values are consistent, while one with a large standard deviation may indicate variability that could affect valuations.

In contrast, the mean, mode, and median are measures of central tendency. The mean provides the average value, the mode identifies the most frequently occurring value, and the median represents the middle value when the data is ordered. While these measures give insights into the central point of the data, they do not convey how much the individual data points vary from that point. Thus, the standard deviation is the most appropriate choice for indicating the degree of deviation from the mean.