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Give two examples of things that might restrict the range of scores in a test and indicate what influence this could have on the validity coefficient.

a. Test anxiety, may inflate validity coefficient
b. Ceiling effects, may underestimate validity coefficient
c. Time constraints, may overestimate validity coefficient
d. Both a and b

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Final answer:

Ceiling effects and test anxiety are two factors that can restrict the range of scores on a test, potentially leading to underestimation or inflation of the validity coefficient, respectively, and affecting the test's overall validity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Two examples of things that might restrict the range of scores in a test include ceiling effects and test anxiety. Ceiling effects occur when a test is too easy, and all or many test-takers score near the top. This situation may lead to an underestimation of the validity coefficient, as the test does not differentiate well between high-ability participants. Test anxiety, on the other hand, may inflate the validity coefficient by disproportionately affecting test-takers, potentially making the test more a measure of anxiety management than of the construct it intends to measure.

Validity refers to the extent to which a test accurately measures what it is supposed to measure. Ceiling effects may mask the true abilities of test-takers, leading to a lower validity coefficient, which compromises the test's construct validity. Conversely, test anxiety might prompt the test to capture levels of anxiety rather than the actual ability being measured, potentially leading to an overestimation of the test's predictive validity when it correlates with external anxiety-related outcomes.

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