A Comparison of Category Scaling Methods.

Abstract

Two models for the analysis of category scaling experiments are presented. Both theories partition the judgments into a perceptual and a motivational component. The decision mechanisms of the theories are linear in the Thurstonian case and hierarchical for the second theory. The experiments to test the theories were category scaling experiments of the loudness of 500 Hz tones. Unlike most such experiments, feedback and differential payoffs were used. The results reject the hierarchical model. The Thurstonian model describes the data very well. This model leaves the stimulus parameters invariant when payoffs varied. The response bias parameters shifted as if the subjects were attempting to maximize expected income or some utility transform of that value. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0757764

Entities

People

  • Diana E. Jacobs
  • Eugene Galanter

Organizations

  • Columbia University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cognition
  • Feedback
  • Intensity
  • Judgment
  • Loudness
  • Mental Processes

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.
  • Statistical inference.