When you have the standard deviations of different samples, you can compare their distributions using statistical tests to make inferences about the larger populations they came from.
Many scientific variables follow normal distributions, including height, standardized test scores, or job satisfaction ratings. The standard deviation tells you how spread out from the center of the distribution your data is on average. Most values cluster around a central region, with values tapering off as they go further away from the center. In normal distributions, data is symmetrically distributed with no skew. Standard deviation is a useful measure of spread for normal distributions. Frequently asked questions about standard deviation.Why is standard deviation a useful measure of variability?.
