Define Ceiling Effect
The specific application varies slightly in differentiating between two areas of use for this term.
Define ceiling effect. Popular terms in the field of testing the constraints placed on achieving higher scores due to the diminishing levels of difficulty encountered by highest scoring individuals which reduces possibility of measuring further improvement. The other scale attenuation effect is the floor effect the ceiling effect is observed when an independent variable no longer has an effect on a dependent variable or the level above which variance in an independent variable is no longer measurable. A ceiling effect in data gathering when variance in an independent variable is not measured or estimated above a certain level is a commonly encountered practical issue in gathering data in many scientific disciplines.
It essentially describes when the dependent variable has leveled out and is no longer responding to the independent variable. A ceiling effect can occur with questionnaires standardized tests or other measurements used in research studies. An example of use in the first area a ceiling effect.
Medical dictionary 2009 farlex and partners. Such a ceiling effect is often the result of constraints on data gathering instruments. The ceiling effect is one type of scale attenuation effect.
The term ceiling effect is a measurement limitation that occurs when the highest possible score or close to the highest score on a test or measurement instrument is reached thereby decreasing the likelihood that the testing instrument has accurately measured the intended domain. In pharmacology a ceiling effect is the point at which an independent variable which is the variable being manipulated is no longer affecting the dependent variable which is the variable being measured. Each intelligence or achievement test usually has an upper limit ceiling designed to be the highest attainable score and yet there are situations when the items are too easy for an exceptional participant.
Ceiling effect the optimal potential effect of a medication. Mixed agonist antagonist opioids such as nalbuphine serve as a classic example of the ceiling effect. The ceiling effect is observed when testing children who are exceptionally gifted.
The inadequacy of a test to measure the true ability and intelligence of a child. Once a therapeutic limit is reached increases in dose may produce side effects but no further beneficial effects.