method of just noticeable differences

a psychophysical procedure to determine the smallest difference between stimuli that can be perceived. A standard stimulus is presented together with a variable stimulus whose magnitude is increased in some trials and decreased in others until a just perceptible difference between the stimuli is reported. The average of the two series is taken, and the threshold is calculated as the point where the difference can be recognized 50% of the time. Also called method of serial exploration.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

Estes–Skinner procedure

another name for conditioned suppression. [after William K. Estes and B. F. Skinner, who developed the technique in 1941]