Definitions
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Ceiling & floor effects
All definitions
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Ceiling and floor effects refer to variables that "have relatively limited variance because they are at the extreme ends of distribution" (Briner, 2008) within the intervention or assessment population.
In practice, the presence of ceiling or floor effects can be relevant when interventions are introduced to try to change a particular outcome variable as well as when tests are given to assess psychometric measures in subjects. Ceiling effect: As an example, Briner (2008) explains that if individuals are very high in positive affect to begin with, then a work intervention designed to increase positive affect will not make much of a difference. This is an example of a ceiling effect. Floor effect: A floor effect occurs when a population is too low on a particular variable for an intervention to have much of an effect or for differences in the variable to be detected by testing. Hurst (2013) explains that a floor effect exists, for example, when a test is too challenging for a particular population. References Briner, R. (2008). Work and well-being subject guide. London: Birkbeck University of London. Hurst, H. (2013). Encyclopedia of autism spectrum disorders. Volkmar, F.R., (eds). New York: Springer. Read a practice exam essay in response to the question:
"It is often said that traditional research methods in the field of work and well-being have limited our understanding. Evaluate this position with reference to theory and research." Exam essay practice answer |
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