What do Standard Scores (SS) indicate?

• A. Percentage of correct answers
• B. How many standard deviations an individual’s score is from the average
• C. Overall performance rating
• D. Comparison with previous years

Answer: (B)

Standard Scores (SS) provide a way to quantify an individual's performance in relation to the average performance of a referenced group, expressed in terms of standard deviations. When an individual's score is calculated, it indicates how far away from the mean (average) that score lies, whether above or below it. A standard score of zero typically represents the average, while a positive score indicates above average and a negative score indicates below average performance. This metric is particularly useful in various assessments, including those used in bone densitometry, because it places emphasis not just on the score itself, but on its relative position in the distribution of scores, allowing for a clear understanding of the individual's performance compared to the norm.