The Scaling of Pitch by the Method of Magnitude-Estimation

Abstract

An important problem is the degree to which ratio-scales represent stable relationships which are not affected by biases.' Stevens has argued that the direct estimations of sensory magnitude generally yield functions of apparent magnitude primarily determined by the functional input-output relations of the receptors,2 but there is evidence that under some conditions response-biases and context-effects may strongly influence ratio-judgments.3 The problem of the invariance of scale-values calls for further investigation. The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect upon the pitchfunction of the frequency of the standard.