Deviance vs. Variance: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Deviance refers to behavior that violates social norms, while variance is a statistical measure of the spread of a data set.
Key Differences
Deviance is commonly used in sociology to describe actions that go against societal norms. Variance, on the other hand, is a statistical term measuring the spread of numbers in a data set.
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Dec 25, 2023
Deviance is qualitative, often assessed based on societal standards and perceptions. Variance is quantitative, calculated as the average of squared deviations from the mean.
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Dec 25, 2023
Deviance is a key concept in criminology and sociology, exploring behaviors diverging from accepted norms. Variance is fundamental in statistics, used in various fields like finance, science, and engineering.
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Dec 25, 2023
Deviance is about non-conformity to societal rules and expectations. Variance deals with variability in numerical data, indicating how spread out the data points are.
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Dec 25, 2023
In sociology, deviance can be subjective and dependent on cultural context. In contrast, variance is an objective measure providing insight into data distribution and consistency.
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Dec 25, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Non-conformity to societal or cultural norms
Measure of the spread of numbers in a set
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Dec 25, 2023
Measurement Approach
Based on societal standards and perceptions
Calculated mathematically
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Dec 25, 2023
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Deviance and Variance Definitions
Deviance
Behavior that strays from accepted social norms.
His graffiti was seen as an act of deviance.
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Dec 25, 2023
Variance
An indication of the variability of a dataset.
Low variance implies that the data points are close to the mean.
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Dec 25, 2023
Deviance
Sociological concept addressing how far behavior diverges from society's average.
The study focused on youth deviance in urban areas.
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Dec 25, 2023
Variance
A tool used to assess the degree of risk in financial investments.
Investors analyzed the variance of stock prices over the last year.
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Dec 25, 2023
Deviance
Actions or conduct that defy societal expectations.
Wearing unconventional attire was her way of deviance.
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Dec 25, 2023
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Variance
The state or quality of being variant or variable; variation
Considerable variance in temperature across the region.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deviance
A departure from usual or accepted standards, especially in behavior.
The artist's style was considered a deviance from the norm.
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Dec 25, 2023
Variance
Difference or inconsistency
Your behavior is at variance with your beliefs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deviance
Non-conformity to established moral or ethical codes.
Their protest was a form of political deviance.
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Dec 25, 2023
Variance
The state or fact of being in disagreement or in conflict
I am at variance with her over who should pay for the damage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deviance
Differing from a norm or from the accepted standards of a society.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
A discrepancy between two statements or documents, especially between the charge in a criminal indictment and the evidence presented.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deviance
One that differs from a norm, especially a person whose behavior and attitudes differ from accepted social standards.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
An exception to the application of a usual rule, granted by an authority on the basis of hardship or practicality
A zoning variance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deviance
(sociology) Actions or behaviors that violate formal and informal cultural norms such as laws and customs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
(Chemistry) The number of thermodynamic variables, such as temperature and pressure, required to specify a state of equilibrium of a system, given by the phase rule; the degrees of freedom of a system.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
A difference between what is expected and what is observed; deviation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
An official permit to do something that is ordinarily forbidden by regulations.
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Variance
(law) A departure from a cause of action originally in a complaint.
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Variance
Covariance and contravariance generally.
Depending on the variance of the type constructor, the subtyping relation of the simple types may be either preserved, reversed, or ignored for the respective complex types.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
The quality or state of being variant; change of condition; variation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
Difference that produces dispute or controversy; disagreement; dissension; discord; dispute; quarrel.
That which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
A disagreement or difference between two parts of the same legal proceeding, which, to be effectual, ought to agree, - as between the writ and the declaration, or between the allegation and the proof.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
The expected value of the square of the deviation from the mean of a randomly distributed variable; the second moment about the mean. This is also the square of the standard deviation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Variance
The second moment around the mean; the expected value of the square of the deviations of a random variable from its mean value
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Variance
A difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions;
A growing divergence of opinion
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Variance
An activity that varies from a norm or standard;
Any variation in his routine was immediately reported
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Variance
A measure of dispersion in a set of data points.
The variance in test scores was surprisingly high.
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Dec 25, 2023
Variance
Statistical term describing how far numbers are spread out from their average.
The researcher calculated the variance to understand data spread.
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Dec 25, 2023
Variance
Mathematical calculation of the average of the squared differences from the Mean.
The finance report showed a variance in annual profits.
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Dec 25, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How is deviance perceived differently in cultures?
It varies based on societal values and norms.
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Dec 25, 2023
What does deviance mean in sociology?
Behavior that diverges from accepted social norms.
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Dec 25, 2023
What is variance in statistics?
A measure of the spread of a set of numbers.
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Dec 25, 2023
How is variance calculated?
By averaging the squared differences from the mean.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can deviance be studied quantitatively?
Yes, through surveys and statistical analysis.
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Dec 25, 2023
Do all societies view deviance the same way?
No, perceptions of deviance vary widely.
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Dec 25, 2023
Is variance affected by outliers?
Yes, outliers can significantly impact variance.
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Dec 25, 2023
Why is variance important in data analysis?
It helps understand data variability and consistency.
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Dec 25, 2023
How does variance differ from standard deviation?
Standard deviation is the square root of variance.
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Dec 25, 2023
Are there different types of deviance?
Yes, including primary, secondary, and tertiary.
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Dec 25, 2023
What role does context play in defining deviance?
Context is crucial in determining what is considered deviant.
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Dec 25, 2023
Does high deviance always indicate a problem?
Not necessarily; it can reflect cultural diversity.
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Dec 25, 2023
How does variance help in risk assessment?
By measuring the variability of outcomes.
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Dec 25, 2023
Is variance applicable in all fields of statistics?
Yes, it's a fundamental concept across statistical applications.
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Dec 25, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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