---
title: "Introduction - Statistical descriptions of model outputs"
canonical: "https://modelassist.epixanalytics.com/space/EA/26575490/Introduction%20-%20Statistical%20descriptions%20of%20model%20outputs"
format: markdown
---
# Statistical descriptions of model outputs

  


Crystal Ball offers a number of statistical descriptions to help analyze and compare results. There are also a number of other statistical measures that you may find useful. We have categorized the statistical measures into three groups:

  


- [Measures of location](https://epixanalytics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/EA/pages/26575493/) – where the distribution is "centered'
- [Measures of spread](https://epixanalytics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/EA/pages/26575500/) – how broad the distribution is
- Measures of shape – how [lopsided](https://epixanalytics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/EA/pages/26575508/) or [peaked](https://epixanalytics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/EA/pages/26575509/) the distribution is

  


However, in general, at Epix Analytics we use very few statistical measures in writing our reports. These statistics are easy to understand and, for nearly any problem, communicate all the information one needs to get across:

  


- The [mean](https://epixanalytics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/EA/pages/26575496/) which tells you where a distribution is located and has some important properties for comparing and combining risks;
- [Cumulative percentiles](https://epixanalytics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/EA/pages/26575491/) which give the probability statements that decision-makers need (like the probability of being above, or below X or between X and Y);
- Relative measures of spread: [normalized standard deviation](https://epixanalytics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/EA/pages/26575507/) (occasionally) for comparing the level of uncertainty of different options relative to their size (i.e. as a dimensionless measure) where the outputs are roughly normal, and [normalized inter-percentile range](https://epixanalytics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/EA/pages/26575507/) (more commonly) for the same purpose where the outputs being compared are not all normal.

  


---