Linear models for responses measured on a continuous scale

Abstract

A first-order linear model for responses measured on a continuous scale is considered. Expressions are derived for stimulus dependencies, autocorrelations, and variances, thus giving a unified treatment of previous work. The stimulus dependencies are shown to remain essentially unchanged for certain cases of nonconstant parameters. The analysis of continuous contingent schedules is illustrated. A higher-order linear model is also discussed briefly. It is shown that the stimulus dependencies can provide parameter-free tests of the whole class of models under consideration. Relations of these models to autoregressive models, and to discreteresponse, linear operator models are pointed out.