heterogeneity.

The presence of meaningful differences among the members or parts of a group.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• population heterogeneity
• heterogeneity of effects
• account for heterogeneity

On the page

The average effect conceals substantial heterogeneity across income groups.

Methodological heterogeneity made the studies difficult to combine.

The neighborhood's heterogeneity cannot be represented by a single occupational label.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic. Academic; usually uncountable. Specify the dimension of variation. In research synthesis, heterogeneity can concern methods, populations, or results, not only statistical spread. Usually uncountable in the recorded sense; no ordinary plural. Derived family (not inflections): heterogeneous.