When analyzing data, what characterizes extreme scores?

Extreme scores are values that are significantly higher or lower than the majority of the data set. They are characterized by their potential to exert a considerable influence on certain statistical measures. When it comes to the range, which is calculated as the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set, extreme scores can greatly affect this measure by expanding the range significantly if they are at either end of the spectrum. This is because the range is solely determined by the most extreme scores, making them critical in its calculation.

While it's true that extreme scores may sometimes be considered outliers, not all extreme scores are classified as such, and they don't always disproportionately affect every statistical measure. Additionally, the influence of extreme scores on the mean and median differs; they particularly affect the mean more than the median due to how averages are calculated, making the mean less robust in the presence of such scores.

Therefore, option B accurately captures the understanding that extreme scores can have a significant impact on the range, reflecting their ability to alter the overall distribution of the data set.