What does 'variation' indicate in statistical terms?

Variation in statistical terms refers to how much the data points in a dataset differ from each other and from the mean of the dataset. It gives insight into the distribution and spread of the data. When variation is discussed, it often involves measurements like range, variance, and standard deviation, which quantify how dispersed the values are. High variation means the data points are spread out over a larger range, while low variation indicates that the data points are closer to the mean and to each other. Understanding this spread is crucial for proper data analysis, as it influences the interpretation of data trends and overall behavior.

The other options highlight different concepts: central tendency focuses on the average or center point of the data, relationship examines how two variables interact, and frequency addresses how often each data point occurs within the dataset. However, none of these directly convey the aspect of spread and dispersion that variation represents.