36:
654:), subjects are free to choose their own standard, assigning any number to the first stimulus and all subsequent ones with the only requirement being that the ratio between sensations and numbers is preserved. In magnitude production a number and a reference stimulus is given and subjects produce a stimulus that is perceived as that number times the reference. Also used is
869:), under the condition that respondents' numerical distortion function and the psychophysical functions could be separated, formulated a behavioral condition equivalent to the psychophysical function being a power function. This condition was confirmed for just over half the respondents, and the power form was found to be a reasonable approximation for the rest (
650:. For subsequent stimuli, subjects report numerically their perceived intensity relative to the standard so as to preserve the ratio between the sensations and the numerical estimates (e.g., a sound perceived twice as loud as the standard should be given a number twice the modulus). In magnitude estimation without a standard (usually just
884:
perceived intensity; i.e. one that is independent of contextual factors and conditions. Consistent with this, Luce (1990, p. 73) observed that "by introducing contexts such as background noise in loudness judgements, the shape of the magnitude estimation functions certainly deviates sharply from
670:
A principal criticism has been that
Stevens' approach provides neither a direct test of the power law itself nor the underlying assumptions of the magnitude estimation/production method: it simply fits curves to data points. In addition, the power law can be deduced mathematically from the
658:, which generally involves subjects altering the magnitude of one physical quantity, such as the brightness of a light, so that its perceived intensity is equal to the perceived intensity of another type of quantity, such as warmth or pressure.
675:, 1978). As with all psychometric studies, Stevens' approach ignores individual differences in the stimulus-sensation relationship, and there are generally large individual differences in this relationship that averaging the data will obscure (
666:
Stevens generally collected magnitude estimation data from multiple observers, averaged the data across subjects, and then fitted a power function to the data. Because the fit was generally reasonable, he concluded the power law was correct.
865:
Critics of the power law also point out that the validity of the law is contingent on the measurement of perceived stimulus intensity that is employed in the relevant experiments. (
1152:
Steingrimsson, R.; Luce, R.D. (2006), "Empirical evaluation of a model of global psychophysical judgments: III. A form for the psychophysical function and intensity filtering",
583:
520:, which is based on a logarithmic relationship between stimulus and sensation, because the power law describes a wider range of sensory comparisons, down to zero intensity.
615:, where stimuli can only be discriminated with a probability around 50%, and global psychophysics, where the stimuli can be discriminated correctly with near certainty (
118:
531:
had been suggested by 19th-century researchers, Stevens is credited with reviving the law and publishing a body of psychophysical data to support it in 1957.
1122:
Luce, R. D. & Krumhansl, C. (1988) Measurement, scaling, and psychophysics. In R. C. Atkinson, R. J. Herrnstein, G. Lindzey, & R. D. Luce (Eds.)
993:
Ellermeier, W.; Faulhammer, G. (2000), "Empirical evaluation of axioms fundamental to
Stevens's ratio-scaling approach: I. Loudness production",
1211:
714:) formulated a testable property capturing the implicit underlying assumption this assertion entailed. Specifically, for two proportions
975:
MacKay, D. M. Psychophysics of perceived intensity: A theoretical basis for
Fechner's and Stevens' laws. Science, 1963, 139, 1213–1216.
1145:
79:
57:
1282:
774:. This amounts to assuming that respondents interpret numbers in a veridical way. This property was unambiguously rejected (
605:
1267:
885:
a power function". Indeed, nearly all sensory judgments can be changed by the context in which a stimulus is perceived.
592:
is the intensity or strength of the stimulus in physical units (energy, weight, pressure, mixture proportions, etc.), ψ(
786:) formulated another property that, if sustained, meant that respondents could make ratio scaled judgments, namely, if
682:
Stevens' main assertion was that using magnitude estimations/productions respondents were able to make judgements on a
623:
are generally applied in local psychophysics, whereas
Stevens' methods are usually applied in global psychophysics.
1287:
50:
44:
877:
671:
Weber-Fechner logarithmic function (Mackay, 1963), and the relation makes predictions consistent with data (
513:
1277:
1074:
61:
1065:
Luce, R.D. (2002), "A psychophysical theory of intensity proportions, joint presentations, and matches",
517:
524:
540:
932:
1079:
1272:
1262:
1023:
Greem, D.M.; Luce, R.D. (1974), "Variability of magnitude estimates: a timing theory analysis",
984:
Staddon, J. E. R.)]. Theory of behavioral power functions. Psychological Review, 85, 305–320.
1241:
1207:
1189:
1141:
1092:
1012:
958:
950:
1202:
1231:
1181:
1161:
1112:
1084:
1054:
1032:
1002:
940:
707:
634:
The principal methods used by
Stevens to measure the perceived intensity of a stimulus were
516:
increase in the sensation created by the stimulus. It is often considered to supersede the
620:
271:
642:. In magnitude estimation with a standard, the experimenter presents a stimulus called a
936:
616:
103:
1256:
683:
612:
509:
512:
between an increased intensity or strength in a physical stimulus and the perceived
1129:
469:
179:
945:
920:
27:
Empirical relationship between actual and perceived changed intensity of stimulus
17:
1088:
600:
is an exponent that depends on the type of stimulation or sensory modality, and
1165:
1137:
1058:
894:
954:
528:
284:
1245:
1203:
Psychophysics: introduction to its perceptual, neural, and social prospects
1193:
1116:
1096:
1016:
962:
880:, whether any given stimulus is actually associated with a particular and
1236:
1219:
1037:
1007:
619:& Krumhansl, 1988). The Weber–Fechner law and methods described by
297:
258:
1220:"Examining the validity of numerical ratios in loudness fractionation"
1185:
672:
1134:
International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences
1045:
Luce, R.D. (1990), "Psychophysical laws: cross-modal matching",
899:
694:
are values on a given ratio scale, then there exists a constant
626:
The table to the right lists the exponents reported by
Stevens.
854:. This property has been sustained in a variety of situations (
29:
1103:
Narens, L. (1996), "A theory of ratio magnitude estimation",
596:) is the magnitude of the sensation evoked by the stimulus,
782:). Without assuming veridical interpretation of numbers, (
876:
It has also been questioned, particularly in terms of
543:
106:
855:
775:
1172:Stevens, S.S. (1957). "On the psychophysical law".
577:
112:
1200:Stevens, S.S. (1975), Geraldine Stevens, editor.
870:
8:
1124:Stevens' Handbook of Experimental Psychology
919:Buchsbaum, M.; Stevens, S. S. (1971-04-30).
611:A distinction has been made between local
523:The theory is named after psychophysicist
91:
1235:
1078:
1036:
1006:
944:
676:
608:constant that depends on the units used.
566:
542:
105:
80:Learn how and when to remove this message
43:This article includes a list of general
911:
921:"Neural Events and Psychophysical Law"
859:
783:
779:
711:
527:(1906–1973). Although the idea of a
7:
866:
135:Sound pressure of 3000 Hz tone
646:and assigns it a number called the
157:Amplitude of 250 Hz on finger
1154:Journal of Mathematical Psychology
1105:Journal of Mathematical Psychology
146:Amplitude of 60 Hz on finger
49:it lacks sufficient corresponding
25:
1140:. Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier.
1126:. New York: Wiley. Pp. 1–74.
856:Ellermeier & Faulhammer 2000
776:Ellermeier & Faulhammer 2000
578:{\displaystyle \psi (I)=kI^{a},}
508:is an empirical relationship in
343:Irradiation of skin, large area
332:Irradiation of skin, small area
34:
534:The general form of the law is
1224:Perception & Psychophysics
1025:Perception & Psychophysics
995:Perception & Psychophysics
553:
547:
1:
1132:, & Baltes, P.B. (2001).
946:10.1126/science.170.3962.1043
871:Steingrimsson & Luce 2006
203:Point source briefly flashed
1089:10.1037/0033-295X.109.3.520
214:Reflectance of gray papers
1304:
1206:, Transaction Publishers,
1166:10.1016/j.jmp.2005.11.005
1059:10.1037/0033-295X.97.1.66
453:Stirring silicone fluids
464:Current through fingers
1283:Mathematical psychology
878:signal detection theory
656:cross-modality matching
365:Whole-body irradiation
354:Whole-body irradiation
64:more precise citations.
1117:10.1006/jmps.1996.0011
579:
114:
722:, and three stimuli,
706:). In the context of
677:Greem & Luce 1974
580:
525:Stanley Smith Stevens
477:Vocal sound pressure
420:Static force on skin
387:Rubbing emery cloths
376:Radiant heat on skin
321:Metal contact on arm
310:Metal contact on arm
115:
1174:Psychological Review
1067:Psychological Review
1047:Psychological Review
652:magnitude estimation
640:magnitude production
636:magnitude estimation
541:
499:White-noise stimuli
482:Angular acceleration
431:Static contractions
409:Thickness of blocks
241:Redness (saturation)
104:
1268:Behavioral concepts
1218:Zimmer, K. (2005).
937:1971Sci...172..502B
770:should be equal to
124:Stimulus condition
1237:10.3758/bf03193515
1038:10.3758/BF03213947
1008:10.3758/BF03212151
575:
506:Stevens' power law
168:5° target in dark
110:
1212:978-0-88738-643-5
518:Weber–Fechner law
503:
502:
398:Squeezing rubber
381:Tactual roughness
247:Red–gray mixture
236:Projected square
113:{\displaystyle a}
90:
89:
82:
18:Stevens power law
16:(Redirected from
1295:
1249:
1239:
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1186:10.1037/h0046162
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1119:
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1001:(8): 1505–1511,
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973:
967:
966:
948:
916:
853:
842:
831:
816:
710:psychophysics, (
584:
582:
581:
576:
571:
570:
414:Pressure on palm
392:Tactual hardness
359:Discomfort, warm
348:Discomfort, cold
121:
119:
117:
116:
111:
92:
85:
78:
74:
71:
65:
60:this article by
51:inline citations
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606:proportionality
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442:Lifted weights
225:Projected line
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470:Vocal effort
425:Muscle force
370:Thermal pain
192:Brief flash
180:Point source
76:
67:
48:
860:Zimmer 2005
784:Narens 1996
780:Zimmer 2005
712:Narens 1996
684:ratio scale
403:Finger span
230:Visual area
70:August 2023
62:introducing
1273:Power laws
1263:Perception
1257:Categories
906:References
895:Perception
832:is judged
817:is judged
802:is judged
790:is judged
750:is judged
738:is judged
698:such that
686:(i.e., if
662:Criticisms
197:Brightness
186:Brightness
173:Brightness
162:Brightness
45:references
1075:CiteSeerX
955:0036-8075
867:Luce 2002
810:, and if
708:axiomatic
545:ψ
529:power law
514:magnitude
447:Viscosity
436:Heaviness
285:Saccharin
208:Lightness
151:Vibration
140:Vibration
98:Exponent
95:Continuum
1246:16134452
1194:13441853
1097:12088243
1017:11140174
889:See also
882:absolute
644:standard
493:Duration
129:Loudness
963:5550509
933:Bibcode
925:Science
843:, then
758:, then
673:Staddon
648:modulus
630:Methods
298:Heptane
259:Sucrose
58:improve
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326:Warmth
315:Warmth
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278:Taste
265:Taste
252:Taste
1242:PMID
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1093:PMID
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951:ISSN
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638:and
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