Eugene Galanter

Dual loudness scales in individual subjects.

Each of 7 subjects matched the loudness of a single tone to the loudness differences within tone pairs (Experiment 1), gave magnitude estimations of those differences (Experiment 2), and gave magnitude estimations of single tonal loudness (Experiment 3). Individual subjects used several loudness scales to perform these tasks, in accordance with Markss (1979b) theory. At least 3 subjects used the same scale to match loudnesses to loudness differences and to give magnitude estimations of the loudness of single tones (Experiments 1 and 3), but used a shallower sloped scale when giving magnitude estimations of loudness differences (Experiment 2).

An efficient non-parametric analysis of recognition memory

A method for efficient evaluation of the results of recognition memory experiments is illustrated. The method is based upon the area under the iso-mnemonic curve relating correct and incorrect acceptances obtained by means of ratings.

Cross-Modality Matching of Money Against Other Continua

Cross-modality matching of hypothetical increments of money against loudness recover the previously proposed exponent of the utility function for money within a few percent. Similar cross-modality matching experiments for decrements give a disutility exponent of 0.59, larger than the utility exponent for increments. This disutility exponent was checked by an additional cross-modality matching experiment against the disutility of drinking various concentrations of a bitter solution. The parameter estimated in this fashion was 0.63.

Utility functions for nonmonetary events

Six experiments are described that use magnitude estimation methods to characterize a nonlinear (approximately square root) utility function for money

Stanley Smith Stevens 1906-1973

S. S. Stevens, professor of Psychophysics in Harvard University was born in Ogden, Utah on 4 November 1906, and died in Vail, Colorado on 18 January 1973. He was, without question, the strongest voice in psychophysics since G. T. Fechner. Indeed, Stevens’ Law and Fechner’s Law represent the most widely known quantifications of stimulus-response relations in all of experimental psychology.

Range estimates of distant visual stimuli

Os made magnitude estimations of the range of visual targets located at physical distances from a few hundred yards or less to more than 5 miles. The targets were at different elevations in different experiments so that O’s gaze varied from 0 to 90 deg. The targets were presented against the empty sky or against water. The Os were stationary in most experiments, but were in motion in one. Results show that the psychophysical functions are power functions whose exponents range from ca. 1.25 to 0.8, depending on the angle of the target above the horizontal. Background texture or O motion had no effect.

Estimates of utility function parameters from signal-detection experiments

Original article can be found at : http://content.apa.org/ Copyright American Psychological Association [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]

Brightnesses, luminances, and Fechner’s paradox

Monocular brightnesses were varied, without varying monocular luminances, both by means of simultaneous contrast and by means of changes in the level of adaptation. Binocular brightness was shown to change in accord with monocular brightness, independent of monocular luminances.

Annoyance scales for simulated VTOL and CTOL overflights

Annoyance of simulated VTOL and CTOL overflights was measured by magnitude estimation scaling. Forty subjects were presented individually with a series of overflight sounds consisting of a mix of aircraft. L‐1011 arrivals and departures at each of three intensity levels were interleaved with Boeing‐Vertol B‐347 overflights with flight parameters adjusted to produce three subjectively varying levels of “blade slap.” Each of the “blade slap” variations was also presented at three intensity levels. In addition the L‐1011 arrivals and departures were octave filtered (10 dB) at each of three center frequencies: 315, 800, and 1600 Hz. These six “treated” spectra were also presented at three intensity levels. An L‐1011 arrival at 89 dbA was used as the standard called “100.” Each of the 33 stimuli was presented in a different random order to each subject for their judgments. Plotted against dBA helicopters were more annoying than arrivals which were more annoying than departures. Plotted against EPNdB arrivals a...

Binaural summation after learning psychophysical functions for loudness.

Do response-related processes affect perceptual processes? Sometimes they may: Algom and Marks (1990) produced different loudness exponents by manipulating stimulus range, and thereby also modified the rules of loudness summation determined by magnitude scaling. The present study manipulated exponents by having a dozen subjects learn prescribed power functions with exponents of 0.3, 0.6, or 1.2 (re sound pressure). Subjects gave magnitude estimates of the loudness of binaural signals during training, and of monaural and binaural signals after training. During training, subjects’ responses followed the nominal functions reasonably well. Immediately following training, subjects applied the numeric response scales uniformly to binaural and monaural signals alike; the implicit monaural-binaural loudness matches, and thus the basic rules underlying binaural summation, were unaffected by the exponent learned. Comparison of these results with those of Algom and Marks leads us to conclude that changing stimulus range likely influences underlying perceptual events, whereas “calibrating” a loudness scale through pretraining leaves the perceptual processes unaffected.