What does the term mean refer to in a data set?

The term "mean" in a data set specifically refers to the average of the values within that set. It is calculated by adding all the numbers together and then dividing by the total number of values. This measure provides a central value that represents the entire data set, making it useful for understanding the overall trend of the data.

When educators analyze performance metrics, for example, the mean can help gauge how students are performing on average, allowing for comparisons and assessments of instructional effectiveness. It’s a fundamental concept in statistics, particularly useful for summarizing and interpreting data.