What does a higher variance indicate about a data set?

A higher variance in a data set indicates that the data points are spread out over a wider range. Variance measures the degree to which individual data points differ from the mean of the data set. When variance is high, it suggests that the values are more dispersed and not closely packed together. This is important for understanding the overall distribution of the data, as a high variance can imply a greater diversity of values and potential for more extreme outcomes. Thus, option B accurately reflects the meaning of higher variance in a statistical context.