EXPERIMENT 03

POINT OF SUBJECTIVE EQUALITY

ABSTRACT

This particular experiment was undertaken to examine the comparative points of subjective
equality between males and females belonging to the same age group. Method of Average
Error by Gustav Fechner was administered for the purpose of data collection. The result of
the study highlights that male has relatively better PSE in comparison to female belonging to
the same age group. The Point of Subjective Equality (PSE) is any of the points along a
stimulus dimension at which a variable stimulus (visual, tactile, auditory, and so on) is judged
by an observer to be equal to a standard stimulus. (Vidotto, Anselmi, & Robusto, 2019)

Keywords: point of subjective equality (PSE), average error method, Simultaneous Color
Contras.

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

To determine the point of subjective equality (PSE) for the brightness of colour by average
error method.

INTRODUCTION:

Psychophysics is the branch of Psychology dealing with the study of relationship between
physical stimuli and individual perception. Perception is a general concept which refers to
interpretation of a stimuli received by the senses. There are number of factors that affect the
perception. Even the same stimuli can give different perceptions at different situations. Some
of the factors that affect the perception are the individual's expectations, similarity, proximity,
continuity and closure. Psychophysics is indeed the earliest branch of experimental
psychology. The theoretical value of psychophysics lies in the fact that it provides one
important experimental approach to the study of the sensory processes and of judgment. As
for its practical value the knowledge gained by the methods of psychophysics has received
increasingly wide application in such fields as personnel selection and equipment design. The
propounder of the concept or discipline of psychophysics was Gustav Theodor Fechner.
The concept was first mentioned in his work Elemente Der Psychophysik in 1860.

There are three important questions which are being addressed while studying the concept of
psychophysics-
Detection of minimal stimuli: The minimum amount of stimulation required will vary with
the conditions of testing. To be barely detectable, a tone has to be less intense in a sound
treated room than in a noisy one, and, similarly a weaker light is needed in a dark room than
in a well-lit one. But for each condition of testing and for each subject, such a minimum
value of a given stimulus can be estimated.

Detection of minimal stimuli difference: The minimum value of the difference will vary from
one testing situation to another and from one subject to another.

Judgement of relations among stimuli: The experimental problems of psychophysics are not
limited to the study of stimuli and stimulus differences that are barely detectable. The
judgment of stimuli well above the minimum needed for discrimination defines another
important area of investigation. Under what conditions, for example, are two stimuli judged
to be equal or as standing in a certain relation to one another? What is the extent of error
when subjects attempt to equate two stimuli with respect to quality or quantity? How reliably
can subjects respond to a stimulus as being half as intense or twice as intense as another
stimulus? These are just a few illustrations of the problems which arise in connection with
judgment of relations among stimuli.

Apart from this, the field composes of two primary concepts – Sensitivity & Threshold.

Sensitivity: The organism is equipped with a number of receptor organs specialized to

respond to particular energy changes in the environment. The receptors of the eye are
responsive to light within a certain range of wave lengths, the receptors of the ear to sound
waves within a certain range of frequencies, and so on. The action of these receptor organs
constitutes an important link in the chain of responses which occurs between the application
of the stimulus and the subject's response. The capacity of the receptor organs and other
reaction systems in the organism to respond selectively and differentially to physical
stimulation we designate as sensitivity.

Our experimental measurements allow us to distinguish two types of sensitivity: absolute and
differential.

Absolute Sensitivity: Absolute sensitivity defines the limits of the organism's capacity to
respond to stimulation. It is inversely related to the minimum stimulus which can be detected
reliably by a subject.

Differential sensitivity: Differential sensitivity defines the organism's capacity to respond to

differences, both qualitative and quantitative, between stimuli. It is inversely related to the
minimum difference between stimuli needed for reliable discrimination.

Threshold: Some stimuli are so weak that they always fail to evoke an effective response in
the organism; others are so intense that they never fail to produce a reaction. The line
separating these two kinds of stimuli-those never yielding responses and those always
yielding responses-can never be sharply drawn; rather, the transition from one to the other is
gradual and continuous.

Suppose we wish to measure a subject’s absolute sensitivity to sound. We begin with a very
weak sound which the subject fails to hear on repeated trials. We then increase the intensity
of the sound. At this second level of stimulation the subject may sometimes hear the sound
and sometimes fail to hear it. When we increase the intensity even further, the subject may
hear the sound more frequently than before but still miss it part of the time. Finally, we may
increase the intensity of stimulation to a level at which the subject never fails to report the
presence of the sound. Clearly, then, there is no one stimulus value which represents the
minimum necessary for a response.

For purposes of measurement, it is generally agreed to consider as the absolute threshold that
stimulus value which yields a response 50 percent of the time, per se, on half the test trials. It
is essential to understand that the absolute threshold is not fixed point on the stimulus scale
but rather is inherently variable in time. A single value representing the absolute threshold
must necessarily be a statistical concept.

Similar considerations apply to estimates of a subject’s differential sensitivity. The

differential threshold is defined as that stimulus difference which gives rise to a judgement of
different 50 percent of the time. For example, if we present a subject with two tones differing
only very little in intensity, he will fail to report a difference most of the time. As we increase
the intensity difference between the two sounds so as to obtain a judgment of different on half
the trials, this difference defines the differential threshold.

There are many variations in the experimental and statistical procedures for the determination
of the absolute and differential thresholds, but they all have the same general purpose: to
make as good as possible an estimate of that stimulus value which will yield a given
judgment-presence vs. absence, same vs. different-on half the trials of a series.

There are several methods outlined to measure absolute threshold

(1)Method of minimal changes which as the name implies, utilizes a series of stimuli,
successively differing by small amounts, in order to make an estimate of the absolute
threshold (2)Method of Constant Stimuli This method derives its name from the fact that a
number of fixed (constant) stimuli are presented to the subject a large number of times,
usually in random order each time a stimulus is presented the subject makes a judgment.
Thus, for each of the stimuli, the percentage of different kinds of judgments may be
computed, and an estimate of the threshold is made the basis of the distributions for all the
stimuli.

For differential threshold and its measures, we observe similar measuring method

(1) Method of minimal changes which we described in some detail in connection with the
determination of the absolute threshold may be used for measuring the differential threshold
as well & the (2) Method of Constant Stimuli remains similar as well on most accounts.
Difference stands at the front that the subject judge’s pairs of stimuli rather than one stimulus
at a time.

Moving on towards the concept of psychophysics that is employed in this particular

experiment, we discuss Point of Subjective Equality. One fundamental category of relational
judgment is sameness vs. difference. Sometimes stimuli whose physical characteristics are
identical may give rise to a judgment of different, and stimuli which differ physically may be
judged same. Thus, there is no necessary correspondence between physical equality of stimuli
and judgments of sameness, nor is there a necessary correspondence between physical
differences and judgments of different. For this reason, experiments on discrimination often
include an estimate of the point of subjective equality (PSE). (Postman & Egan, 1949)

Suppose we present a subject with pairs of stimuli, one member of the pair being fixed and
the other member varying from trial to trial, sometimes being equal to the first stimulus,
sometimes larger, sometimes smaller. The subject is required to make a judgment of same or
different in response to each pair. In such an experiment the point of subjective equality is
defined by that comparison stimulus which is most likely to result in a judgment of same.
Under many experimental conditions the stimuli most likely to be judged same are physically
equal ones. Sometimes, however, two stimuli which differ by a certain amount are more
likely to be judged same than physically equal ones.

In psychophysics, the point of subject equality (PSE) is any of the points along a stimulus
dimension at which a variable stimulus (visual, tactile, auditory, and so on) is judged by an
observer to be equal to a standard stimulus. (Vidotto, Anselmi, & Robusto, 2019)

The value of a comparison stimulus that, for a given observer, is equally likely to be judged
as higher or lower than that of a standard stimulus. (APA dictionary of psychology)

Moving on towards The Method of Average Error, in the determination of absolute and
differential thresholds by the methods already discussed control over changes in the stimulus
was entirely in the hands of the experimenter. There are certain problems however which
may best be attacked by permitting the subject to control the variations in the stimulus. In
such cases, the method of average error is used. The typical degree to which a series of
observations are inaccurate with respect to an absolute criterion (e.g., a standard weight or
length) or a relative criterion (e.g., the mean of the observations within a given condition).

In the method of adjustment, the subject is asked to control the level of the stimulus and to
alter it until it is just barely detectable against the background noise, or is the same as the
level of another stimulus. The adjustment is repeated many times. This is also called the
method of average error.

Contrast effect is very useful while measuring the PSE, Contrast effect is an unconscious
bias that happens when two things are judged in comparison to one another, instead of being
assessed individually. Our perception is altered once we start to compare things to one
another. We tend to judge them relative to each other rather than on their own merit. Contrast
effect can occur at different points in time - I may compare an object I’m looking at to one I
saw yesterday. This effect can be both conscious and unconscious, since we might not even
be aware that we’re making a comparison. (Joe Caccavale, 2022)

There a two types of contrast effect: Positive contrast effect: something is viewed as better
than it would usually be when being compared to things that are worse. Negative contrast
effect: something is viewed as being worse than it would usually be when compared to
something better.

Fechner had written Method of Adjustment and various prevalent papers to accompany his
findings, the most notable being, “Elemente der Psychophysik, 2 vol (Elements of
Psychophysics)”. This book was first published in 1860, establishing the importance of
experimental psychology and creating the first view and explanation of the theory of
psychophysics. The published book created a name for Fechner in the field of psychology as
he was accounted as one of the founders of modern experimental psychology. (“Encyclopedia
Britannica,” 2018) His research not only developed a new theory but allowed the field to be
studied in a way never experienced before; experimentally and quantitatively.

METHOD

Objective:

i) To measure the Point of Subjective Equality by the Method of Average Error in males

ii) To measure the Point of Subjective Equality by the Method of Average Error in females

iii) To observe the comparative Point of Subjective Equality between males and females by
the Method of Average Error

Hypothesis:

1. Male subject will have a higher PSE than female subject.

Experimental design:

The experiment is going to be conducted on an online platform. There were settings to be

done to set the size of the stimulus, inner circle, position, background and total number of
trails. The link of the website is given here:

https://isle.hanover.edu/Ch02Methods/Ch02MethodOfAdjustmentPSE_evt.html

The aim of the experiment is to access the point of subjective equality of the brightness of
colour. For this purpose the simulation was used and 10 trials were conducted.

Further on the calculation of point of subjective equality is done.

Materials:

1. Laptop

2. The tool for Method of Adjustment administered through an online platform

3. A wireless mouse

4. Informed consent forms

5. A plain sheet

Variables:

Independent variable:

 Level of the brightness of the standard stimulus.

Dependent variable:

 Perception of the point of subjective equality by the subject.

Controls:

1) Brightness of the device should be constant across all subjects.

2) Positioning of the device should be constant across all subjects.

3) Sitting position should be adjusted in a manner such that the distance between each subject
and the device remains same.

4) The brightness of the device should not change throughout the experiment.

5) The positioning of the device should not change throughout the experiment.

6) The sitting position of the subject should not change throughout the experiment.

7) Environmental factors – noise, light and fan are controlled.

8) The stimulus should remain the same across subjects

9) The subject’s mobile should be on silent.

Sample:

Subject 1: A 23 yr old Male was taken as a subject for this experiment.

Subject 2: A 21 yr old Female was taken as a subject for this experiment.

Scoring method:

Average Standard stimulus = Total standard stimulus/10

Average Comparison stimulus = Total comparison stimulus/10

PSE= Average of comparison stimulus – Average of Standard stimulus

PROCEDURE

1. Rapport Formation:

Subject 1:

The subject and the experimenter were familiar to one another; hence rapport formation
wasn’t required during the conduction of this psychological tool with them.

Subject 2:

The subject and the experimenter were familiar to one another; hence rapport formation
wasn’t required during the conduction of this psychological tool with them.

Instructions:

The experiment was done on the website; the instructions were given in the website itself.
The instructions were:

1. You have a blank screen in front of you containing the experiment. To begin, press the
spacebar.

2. You’ll observe two stimuli presented in front of you. These stimuli are composed of two
circles: a large outer circle and a smaller inner circle – each with a different colour. . The
outer circles will not change colour. The inner circle on the left will also not change. Only the
inner circle on the right will.
It is your task to match the colour of the internal circles with each other. You are to adjust the
colour of the inner circle on the right so that it looks as similar as possible in colour to the
colour of the inner circle on the left.

3. There is a bar given below that will aid in modulating the colour of the right internal circle.
Use this to make your adjustments.

4. Once you have accomplished this goal, press “Match” to submit your response and proceed
to the next trial.

5. Do the same for all existing trials.

Actual procedure:

The experiment was conducted in a secluded room to ensure absence of distractions. Subjects
were welcomed to an adequately lit room, greeted and once they were comfortable the
experimenter explained what has to be done in the test.

They were requested to take a seat in front of the laptop, which was positioned at a definite
distance; as to maintain equal distance between them and the screen. Once settled, the subject
was presented with an instruction sheet, asked to read each step and repeat it thereafter to
ensure proper understanding and leave no room for error. With a thorough understanding of
what the experiment entailed and what was to be done, the subject began the experiment. The
conduction was carried forward smoothly from beginning to end with ease.

Introspective Report by the Subject –

Subject 1:

“The experiment was very good. I think I did my part following the instructions. At first it
was fun but after 3rd or 4th trial my eyes started to get strained as I was constantly observing
the inner circles. Overall I enjoyed the experiment.”

Subject 2:

“It was quite tricky and I was feeling quite nervous as I was not able to guess the difference
or similarity properly, also due to constantly watching at the inner circles my eyes were
getting bit strained.”
 RESULTS:

Quantitative result:

It is concluded from the introspective report that the subject enjoyed the experiment and did
the task with ease, his eyes were feeling a bit strained after some time.

Quantitative result:

Trial Standard Variable Blue Value Dependant Variable Blue Value

1 148 126
2 148 120
3 148 96
4 148 138
5 148 137
6 148 123
7 148 100
8 148 103
9 148 115
10 148 144
11 148 117
12 148 119
13 148 138
14 148 122
15 148 135
16 148 121
17 148 126
18 148 130
19 148 133
20 148 117
Total 2960 2460

Table 1: Standard stimulus and the responses given on comparison stimulus

 160

140

120

100

80 STD Blue Value

DV Blue Value
60

40

20

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Graph 1: Graph showing number of trials and responses on comparison stimulus

 Average Standard Stimulus

= Total Standard Stimulus / 10

= 2960/10

= 296

 Average Comparison Stimulus

= Total Comparison Stimulus / 10

= 2460/10

= 246

 PSE Score

= Average of Comparison Stimulus - Average of Standard Stimulus

= 246- 296
= - 50

Results for subject 1:

Average standard stimulus = 296

Average comparison stimulus= 246

PSE score= -50

Subject 2

Qualitative result

It is concluded from the introspective report that the subject was feeling quite nervous and
felt that it was too tricky; overall she completed the experiment as explained.

Quantitative result

Trials Standard Variable Blue Value Dependant Variable Blue Value

1 148 157
2 148 173
3 148 95
4 148 129
5 148 102
6 148 114
7 148 86
8 148 121
9 148 141
10 148 82
11 148 94
12 148 95
13 148 93
14 148 78
15 148 107
16 148 111
17 148 118
18 148 127
19 148 103
20 148 151
Total 2960 2277

Table 2: Standard stimulus and the responses given on comparison stimulus

200

180

160

140

120

100 STD Blue Value

DV Blue Value
80

60

40

20

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Graph 2: Graph showing number of trials and responses on comparison stimulus

 Average Standard Stimulus

= Total Standard Stimulus / 10

= 2960/10

= 296

 Average Comparison Stimulus

= Total Comparison Stimulus / 10

= 2277/10

= 227.7
PSE Score

= Average of Comparison Stimulus - Average of Standard Stimulus

= 227.7- 296

= - 68.3

Results for subject 2

Average standard stimulus = 296

Average comparison stimulus= 227.7

PSE score= -68.3

DISCUSSION

This particular experiment was undertaken to examine the comparative points of subjective
equality between males and females belonging to the same age group. Point of Subject
Equality (PSE) refers to any of the points along a stimulus dimension at which a variable
stimulus (visual, tactile, auditory, and so on) is judged by an observer to be equal to a
standard stimulus. (Vidotto, Anselmi, & Robusto, 2019) Method of Average Error by Gustav
Fechner was administered for the purpose of data collection. This method yields values in
terms of PSE Scores.

PSE Scores are analysed with reference to the central value - 0. The closer the scores are to
zero, better the Point of Subjective Equality. Scores further from zero represent lowering
levels of PSE while those near to it portray a stronger result.

For Subject 1, we observe PSE at -50 while Subject 2 holds a PSE Score of – 68.3. These
values visibly indicate that Subject 1, that is the male subject stands at a better position with a
better point of subjective equality, in comparison to the female Subject 2.

CONCLUSION

This particular experiment, undertaken to examine the comparative points of subjective

equality between males and females belonging to the same age group. The results of my
experiment yields that the male subject has a relatively better PSE than female.
 LIMITATIONS

1. The subject was feeling a little fatigued and his eyes were paining a bit because he has
done so much work on laptop throughout the day.

2. The environmental factors like noise, lights, temperature could not be controlled.

3. The experiment was done on a single subject; thus, the results could not be generalised on
all.

4. The experiment was conducted on a male subject thus the results of the experiment cannot
be generalized to male population.

5. The experiment that was conducted was held on university student so we cannot say that
this result would apply in adult population and across all age groups.

USES OF THE EXPERIMENT

The concepts of psychophysics have a wide implication in our daily task that we do

1. The point of subjective equality is useful in calculating the average error, the differential
and absolute threshold can also be determined through the method of point of subjective
equality.

2. Judgments play a very important role in the kind of decisions that we make. Every
individual has a different point of judgment due to the difference of the point of subjective
equality. Psychophysics is mainly concerned with the study of our sensory processes and how
we make judgments.

3. During the process of counselling the PSE becomes very important because the counsellor
needs to understand why the client behaved in a certain way, and moreover in what way had
the client perceived the stimulus event that was present in the environment. By understanding
the PSE of the client, the counsellor might help the client deal with their problems.

4. The concept of psychophysics can also be used in job selection and requirement. Certain
jobs require that a person be very attentive and he/she can easily detect stimuli, for
requirement for such jobs the PSE can be used as it measures the judgment a person is able to
make when there is a change of stimulus. Similarly, there are a number of other such job
requirements where PSE plays a very important role.
REFERENCES:

New perspective in computing the point of subjective equality using Rasch models,
Giulio Vidotto, Pasquale Anselmi, Egidio Robusto- Frontiers (2019) NCBI

What is the Absolute threshold of a Stimulus?- Verywellmind

Perception & Psychophysics 1975, Vol. 18(6), 373-378 Relational judgments with
remembered stimuli DONALD G. JAMIESON and WILLIAM M. PETRUSIC
Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaKIS 5B6

Sensitivity- APA dictionary of psychology

Threshold Determination- psychology wiki

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Gustav Fechner.

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Psychophysics. Wikipedia.

Absolute threshold From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia- https://en.wikipedia.org/

Joe Caccavale , October 12, 2020 - What Is Contrast Effect? And How It Impacts
Recruitment - https://www.beapplied.com/

Gustav Theodor FechnerAuthors: Sukhmani sengar, Andrea Cretu, Manvir Singh

Judge, Gulay Emin, Eden Barr, Carter Little December 14th, 2018- https://history-of-
psychology.readthedocs.io/en/latest/fechner.html

Fechner, Gustav Theodor. ( 1860). In Elemente der psychophysik.

Postman, L., & Egan, J. (1949). The Psychophysical Methods. In Experimental

Psychology. Joanna Cotler Books.

According to Guilford “the

method of adjustment also
known as the method of
average error is
used to psychophysically
measure a subject’s accuracy
and precision in matching
stimulus
magnitude.”
According to Cattell “The
method of average error—in
which an observer makes one
stimulus as
nearly as possible like another-
is, in many cases, the most
convenient of the methods. It
is
closely related to the
preceding, as the probable
error can be found either from
the average error
or from.”
According to Fullerton “If the
just noticeable difference can
be interpreted by the observer
as a
difference apparently equal to
some other difference, the
method is reduced to that of
the
estimated amount of
difference.”
According to Guilford “the method of
adjustment also known as the method of
average error is
used to psychophysically measure a
subject’s accuracy and precision in
matching stimulus
magnitude.”
According to Cattell “The method of
average error—in which an observer
makes one stimulus as
nearly as possible like another-is, in
many cases, the most convenient of the
methods. It is
closely related to the preceding, as the
probable error can be found either from
the average error
or from.”
According to Fullerton “If the just
noticeable difference can be interpreted
by the observer as a
difference apparently equal to some
other difference, the method is reduced
to that of the
estimated amount of difference.”
According to Guilford “the method of
adjustment also known as the method of
average error is
used to psychophysically measure a
subject’s accuracy and precision in
matching stimulus
magnitude.”
According to Cattell “The method of
average error—in which an observer
makes one stimulus as
nearly as possible like another-is, in
many cases, the most convenient of the
methods. It is
closely related to the preceding, as the
probable error can be found either from
the average error
or from.”
According to Fullerton “If the just
noticeable difference can be interpreted
by the observer as a
difference apparently equal to some
other difference, the method is reduced
to that of the
estimated amount of difference.”