What does a ceiling effect prevent in terms of test performance?

What does a ceiling effect prevent in terms of test performance?

• A. Accurate assessments of low functioning individuals
• B. Detection of deterioration in patient conditions
• C. Identifying high-functioning individuals
• D. Determining the range of test scores

Answer: (C)

A ceiling effect occurs when a test has a limited upper scoring range, which can prevent the accurate assessment of individuals who are performing at a high level. In this context, when high-functioning individuals take a test with a ceiling effect, they may achieve scores that are near the maximum, leading to a situation where distinguishing between their performances becomes challenging. This limits the ability to identify subtle yet important variations in skills or abilities among high achievers since many may attain similar high scores. Consequently, the test becomes less useful for differentiating between individuals within that high-achieving group, as their true capabilities might not be fully captured by the scoring system in place.

A ceiling effect occurs when a test has a limited upper scoring range, which can prevent the accurate assessment of individuals who are performing at a high level. In this context, when high-functioning individuals take a test with a ceiling effect, they may achieve scores that are near the maximum, leading to a situation where distinguishing between their performances becomes challenging. This limits the ability to identify subtle yet important variations in skills or abilities among high achievers since many may attain similar high scores. Consequently, the test becomes less useful for differentiating between individuals within that high-achieving group, as their true capabilities might not be fully captured by the scoring system in place.