Abstract
Stevens’ psychophysical power law is derived from the empirical finding of linearity between variable and standard in ratio setting experiments. The uniqueness of the solution depends on an invariance assumption.
This work was supported by the Swedish Social Science Research Council. I am indebted to Dr Sören Holm for mathematical assistance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Björkman, M., and Holmkvist, O. The time-order error in the construction of a subjective time scale. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 1960, 1, 7–13.
Eisler, H. A note on treatment of ratio setting data for constructing psychological scales. Reports from the Psychological Laboratory, The University of Stockholm, 1958, No. 54.
Eisler, H. On psychophysics in general and the general psychophysical differential equation in particular. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 1965, 6, 85–102.
Eisler, H., and Ekman, G. A mechanism of subjective similarity. Acta Psychologica, 1959, 16, 1–10.
Ekman, G. Two generalized ratio scaling methods. The Journal of Psychology, 1958, 45, 287–295.
Ekman, G., and Frankenhaeuser, M. Subjective time scales. Reports from the Psychological Laboratory, The University of Stockholm, 1957, No. 49.
Reese, T. W. The application of the theory of physical measurement to the measurement of psychological magnitudes with three experimental examples. Psychological Monographs, 1943, 55, No. 251.
Ross, S., and Katchmar, L. The construction of a magnitude function for short time-intervals. American Journal of Psychology, 1951, 64, 397–401.
Taves, E. H. Two mechanisms for the perception of visual numerousness. Archives of Psychology, 1941, 37, No. 265.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1974 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht-Holland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Eisler, H. (1974). The Derivation of Stevens’ Psychophysical Power Law. In: Moskowitz, H.R., Scharf, B., Stevens, J.C. (eds) Sensation and Measurement. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2245-3_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2245-3_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-2247-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-010-2245-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive