When analyzing data, what is a limitation of using the range as a measure of variability?

The range is defined as the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set. While it provides a quick measure of variability, a significant limitation is that it does not account for all values in the distribution. Specifically, the range is solely dependent on the two extreme values (the maximum and minimum), which can be significantly affected by outliers. For instance, if a single observation in a dataset is much higher or lower than the others, it can create a misleading representation of the overall variability. Thus, while the range may suggest a larger spread, it does not provide a full picture of how data points are distributed within that range.

In contrast, measures like the interquartile range or standard deviation consider all values in the distribution and provide a more comprehensive understanding of variability. This is why option C highlights a crucial limitation of the range, making it an insufficient measure of variability on its own.