An outlier is a data point that doesn’t match the rest of the pattern. In quantitative data, usually a number that is too big or too small to be part of the data set.
How can this be used in schools?
It’s helpful to know that some things are just not going to match up. Maybe that’s a test score or a particular behavior. Knowing what the pattern is and also knowing what doesn’t fit helps educators understand how to respond to the evidence.
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This post is part of a Science Terms for Educator series. Teaching is hard. Science can help. More science terms coming soon!
Katie Budrow 