variance
/ˈvɛəriəns/
Definition
A statistical measure representing the degree to which individual data points in a set differ or fluctuate from the overall mean or average.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'variantia', meaning 'difference' or 'diversity', which comes from the verb 'variare' meaning 'to change' or 'to diversify'. It entered Middle English through Old French, eventually adopting its specific mathematical meaning in the 20th century.
In the news
In the article, the term explains that socioeconomic status and air pollution account for over half of the differences observed in autism diagnosis rates across various states. It highlights how much of the variation in state-level data can be attributed to specific environmental and economic factors.
Wealth and air pollution emerge as top predictors of state autism rates
Read the full article ↗PsyPost