Range (calculation)

The range

In statistics, the range is a measure of the overall spread of values in a dataset. Although the range may inform about the spread of data of quantitative variables, the information it provides is rather limited and, thus, it is seldom used in statistical analyses.

Interpreting the range

The range is interpreted as "the overall dispersion" of values in a dataset or, more literally, as the "difference between the largest and the smallest value" in a dataset. The range is measured in the same units than the variable of reference and, thus, has a direct interpretation as such. This can be useful when comparing similar variables but of little use when comparing variables with different measurement units.

For example, if you read that the age range of two groups of students is 3 in one group and 7 in another, then you know that the second group is more spread out (there is a difference of seven years between the youngest and the oldest student) than the first (which only sports a difference of three years between the youngest and the oldest student).