Consider the following data from a 40-item math skills test administered to three groups of elementary school students. $\begin{array}{ll}
\text { Age Group } & \text { Mean Score } \
3rd & 32.1 \
4th & 37.5 \
4 \text { th } & 39.3
\end{array}$
Interpretation of these data for 5th graders may be limited by the test's
A) baseline effect.
B) discrimination effect.
C) ceiling effect.
D) floor effect.

Question

Consider the following data from a 40-item math skills test administered to three groups of elementary school students. $\begin{array}{ll}
\text { Age Group } & \text { Mean Score } \
3rd & 32.1 \
4th  & 37.5 \
4 \text { th } & 39.3
\end{array}$
Interpretation of these data for 5th graders may be limited by the test's
A) baseline effect.
B) discrimination effect.
C) ceiling effect.
D) floor effect.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ceiling effect refers to a situation where a test's items are too easy for the highest ability level in the population being tested, resulting in a lack of discrimination among the top performers. Since the mean score for the 4th grade group is already quite high (39.3 out of 40), it is possible that the test has reached its ceiling effect and may not be able to discriminate well among the highest ability level of 5th graders.

Consider the Following Data from a 40-Item Math Skills Test Age Group Mean Score 3rd32.14th37.54 th 39.3\begin{array}{ll}\text { Age Group } & \text { Mean Score } \\3rd & 32.1 \\4th & 37.5 \\4 \text { th } & 39.3\end{array} Age Group 3rd4th4 th ​ Mean Score 32.137.539.3​

Consider the Following Data from a 40-Item Math Skills Test $\begin{array}{ll}\text { Age Group } & \text { Mean Score } \\3rd & 32.1 \\4th & 37.5 \\4 \text { th } & 39.3\end{array}$