Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M8303

Coefficient of Variation

Coefficient of Variation
TechnicalHigh supportStatistics
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

The ratio of the standard deviation to the mean, used to compare the relative dispersion of datasets with different units or different means.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Standardized comparison. It enables comparison of variability across different scales.

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Anchor fast decisions

CV=σ/μ is a dimensionless relative dispersion measure that eliminates the influence of units and mean level, allowing comparison of dispersion across datasets with different units or means. When the mean is close to zero, CV becomes distorted, so the mean must be far from zero.

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficient_of_variationZH · Explicit
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