What does N represent in a PROC MEANS step?

In a PROC MEANS step, the letter N specifically represents the number of nonmissing values for the specified variable(s). This is critical because PROC MEANS is commonly used to summarize data by calculating various statistics such as mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum.

When analyzing datasets, it’s essential to understand how many valid (nonmissing) data points are present. This number helps users assess the reliability of the calculated statistics. For instance, if a dataset has missing values, N will only count the observations that have valid entries, giving a clearer picture of the dataset’s completeness and allowing for more informed decision-making regarding the analysis results.

As a result, N serves as a crucial indicator of the quality and usability of the data when performing statistical analyses.