How can you identify an outlier in a data set?

Identifying an outlier in a data set involves looking for values that significantly differ from the majority of the data. One effective method is to compare the data points to the mean. Outliers are often identified using statistical methods, such as determining how far a data point is from the mean in terms of standard deviations. Values that are more than a certain number of standard deviations away from the mean (usually 2 or 3) are typically considered outliers, as they do not fit within the expected range of the data.

Using the mean provides a specific numerical reference that can help to highlight those unusual values that are much larger or smaller than what would be expected based on the rest of the data set. This approach is quantitative, allowing for clear criteria to determine which points are outliers, making it a reliable method in statistical analysis.