This is even more of a problem with multiple choice tests.
Floor and ceiling effects traduction.
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.
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In layperson terms your questions are too hard for the group you are testing.
Psychology definition of floor effect.
The inability of a test to measure or discriminate below a certain point usually because its items are too difficult.
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 compare floor effect.
Ceiling effects and floor effects both limit the range of data reported by the instrument reducing variability in the gathered data.
A floor effect is when most of your subjects score near the bottom.
Let s talk about floor and ceiling effects for a minute.
Limited variability in the data gathered on one variable may reduce the power of statistics on correlations between that variable and another variable.
There is very little variance because the floor of your test is too high.