---
title: Floor and ceiling effects
description: "A floor effect in multi-item outcome measures occurs when most people choose the lowest possible scoring response on an item. A ceiling effect is most people choosing the highest scoring option. A floor response leaves no scope to record improvement…"
url: "https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/floor-and-ceiling-effects/"
updated: "2021-11-14"
category: All OM book glossary entries
---

# Floor and ceiling effects

A floor effect in multi-item outcome measures occurs when most people choose the lowest possible scoring response on an item. A ceiling effect is most people choosing the highest scoring option. A floor response leaves no scope to record improvement on that item and a ceiling response leaves no room to show deterioration. Both limit the **Variance** of scores.

#### Try also ...

[Variance](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/variance/)

#### Chapters

Nothing here yet!

#### Online applications

At some point: online form which would flag up these effects for items.