What occurs when a test score shows a strong negative skew, indicating most scores are at the upper end?

When a test score shows a strong negative skew, it indicates that the majority of the scores are clustered at the upper end of the distribution, while there are fewer scores at the lower end. This phenomenon is known as the Ceiling Effect.

In situations where a Ceiling Effect is present, many individuals achieve high scores, and very few score lower, leading to a situation where the test does not adequately differentiate between the highest performers. Consequently, it becomes challenging to measure differences among those at the upper levels of ability or performance, as they are all scoring near the maximum, hence the term "ceiling." This can limit the findings of an evaluation or assessment.

The other options do not accurately describe this situation or phenomenon. A Basement Effect would refer to a clustering of scores at the lower end, while a Normal Distribution entails scores that are symmetrically balanced around a central mean. Skewed Effect is a general term that could refer to any deviation from a normal distribution without specifically categorizing the direction or nature of the skew. In this context, the Ceiling Effect is the most precise and relevant description of strong negative skew in test scores.