A COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS OF SCALING PAIN

Abstract

Sixteen subjects were required to maintain grip strengths equal to 25% and 40% of their maximum as long as possible and to report their pain sensations using both self-paced and irregular, experimenter-paced methods of reporting. In addition, results were compared using five and ten point scales. A small, but statistically significant, difference in results was obtained with the two scaling methods, principally at the maximum intensity. Also, the size of the scale unit influenced the ratings, but the reason remains obscure. The comparability of the results with the two methods of scaling indirectly suggests that the linearity of the pain and effort functions previously obtained was not due to the subject's fractionating his contraction time, but rather that the sensations increased linearly with time.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 19, 1968
Accession Number
AD0681900

Entities

People

  • Judith Ann Menzer
  • Lee S. Caldwell
  • Richard P. Smith

Organizations

  • United States Army Medical Research Laboratory

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  • Biomedical

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  • Abstracts
  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Research
  • Classification
  • Health Services
  • Hospitals
  • Intensity
  • Internal Pressure
  • Linearity
  • Medical Laboratories
  • Physiology
  • Psychology
  • Sensation
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