What does a large interquartile range (IQR) suggest about a dataset?

A large interquartile range (IQR) indicates substantial variability among the central data points within a dataset. The IQR measures the spread of the middle 50% of the data, specifically from the first quartile (Q1) to the third quartile (Q3). When the IQR is large, it suggests that there is a significant distance between these quartiles, meaning that the values in the central portion of the dataset are more spread out. This can imply greater diversity or variability in the central data points, reflecting a wider range of values.

Understanding the IQR is crucial for assessing the distribution of data, as it is less affected by extreme values or outliers than other measures of spread, such as the range. Thus, a larger IQR can indicate that while extreme values might exist, it is specifically the variability of the central portion of the dataset that is of interest here. This insight helps in recognizing the overall data spread and its characteristics.