Standard deviation is a calculation used to determine the expected variability of future data. It can be calculated manually or with statistical software. Many general statistical packages include standard deviation calculations, and there are free online calculators available. There are numerous statistical software packages available, both free and proprietary, that include standard deviation software, and the choice of which to use depends on the user’s needs and project complexity.
Standard deviation refers to a number calculated from a set of sample data that provides insight into the expected variability of future data. Below an ideal bell curve bisected by a line representing the mean, or average, of all data, the standard deviation is a calculated number added to and subtracted from the mean to establish boundaries of one standard deviation from the mean . Of all data, 68% are expected to be within one standard deviation, 99.5% of all data are expected to be within two standard deviations, and 99.7% are expected to be within three standard deviations. It is not necessary to use a specific standard deviation software application for a calculation that can be performed manually or using a calculator with statistical functions. Rather, tips for choosing the best standard deviation software should be considered when making a choice between larger statistical packages that best suit the user’s personal or business needs.
Standard deviation software – the means of calculating this value using a computer – is included as part of general statistical packages that provide a wider range of descriptive statistical values. Typically, even basic general statistics packages include standard deviation calculations as well as calculations of the mean, median, and modal values of a sample population, and many, many other values that help you evaluate the reliability of the hypotheses you can formulate with the data. If, despite these other options, all you need is a basic type of standard deviation software, there are multiple sites on the Internet to calculate the data with relative ease and at no cost. A quick internet search will easily lead you to one of these sites, often developed by teachers for the use of their students. While these sites are free and relatively easy to use, they can be limited in the amount of sample data they can accept for calculation.
Statistical software packages that also include standard deviation software are numerous and easily available on the Internet. There are a great many programs that are free, public domain, or considered “open source” software. Instead, hundreds of proprietary programs are available, often targeting specific industries, including education, medicine, social sciences, manufacturing, or even genetics. Which program to choose will often be determined by an assessment of the cost of the program, the needs of a project versus the complexity of the program, and whether customer service or posted instructions will be adequate for the user’s needs.
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