What is the term for a statistical measure of typical scores for categories of information?

Prepare for the DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with detailed explanations. Ace your test with confidence!

The term that best fits the description of a statistical measure of typical scores for categories of information is "Developmental Norm." Developmental norms are established averages or benchmarks that indicate what is typical at different stages of development. They provide a framework to assess and compare an individual's performance or abilities against a broader population, allowing for the identification of deviations from the norm.

This term is especially valuable in developmental psychology, as it helps to gauge children's growth and development across various domains—such as physical, cognitive, and social skills—at specific ages. For instance, a developmental norm might indicate the average age at which children typically begin to walk or talk, which serves as a baseline for evaluating individual progress.

In contrast, standard deviation, mean score, and percentile rank are other statistical measures that serve different purposes. While standard deviation indicates the variability or dispersion of scores around the mean, and mean score represents the average of a dataset, percentile rank provides a relative standing of a score within a distribution but does not communicate typical developmental milestones as effectively as developmental norms do. Thus, developmental norms hold a unique significance in the context of understanding typical developmental trajectories.

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