floor effect

the situation in which a large proportion of participants perform very poorly on a task or other evaluative measure, thus skewing the distribution of scores and making it impossible to differentiate among the many individuals at that low level. For example, a test whose items are too difficult for those taking it would show a floor effect because most people would obtain or be close to the lowest possible score of 0. Compare ceiling effect.

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Psychology term of the day

September 14th 2024

wish

1. in classical psychoanalytic theory, the psychological manifestation of a biological instinct that operates on a conscious or unconscious level.

2. in general language, any desire or longing.