Response frequency equalization: A bias model for psychophysics

Abstract

A model for response bias in psychophysics is derived. Of the model’s two aspects, one is concerned with the generation of sensory states and the other with rules for transforming sensory states into responses. The model incorporates the bias rule that Ss tend to use available responses with equal frequency. Applications to experiments which use the method of constant stimuli are discussed. Despite the contrary claims of Restle and Levison (1971), the model not only predicts their data quite well but also, under certain conditions, does so better than the theory of adaptation level used by Restle and Levison themselves.