What is the purpose of calculating the mean in statistical analysis?

Calculating the mean serves the purpose of summarizing the overall average of a dataset. It provides a single value that represents the central point of the data, making it easier to understand the general trend or typical value within the set. By summing all the individual scores and dividing by the total number of scores, the mean gives a comprehensive snapshot of the dataset.

This method of averaging is particularly useful in statistical analysis because it reduces a potentially large and complex set of numbers into one understandable figure, facilitating comparisons, interpretations, and decision-making based on the data. The mean helps identify where most data points lie relative to this average, ensuring that analysts can communicate findings effectively.

Other options relate to different statistical measures, such as mode for the most common score, range for the spread of scores, and variance for the degree of scoring differences, but they do not capture the specific role of the mean in summarizing data.