Intermanual Effects of Anchors on Zones of Maximal Sensitivity in Weight-Discrimination

Contextual determination of apparent weight as demonstrated by the method of constant stimuli

“…The present experiment, then, is here reported (a) to confirm that contextual influence on judged heaviness exists as a genuine perceptual fact, not a purely semantic one depending on category ratings (Stevens, 1958); (b) to extend the observation that weights lifted in one hand affect judgments of weights lifted in the other (Dinnerstein, 1965); and (c) to introduce a technique by which the technical advantages of the method of constant stimuli can be brought to bear on further study of weight context phenomena.…”

“…Harvey & Campbell (1963) approached this difficulty by comparing single-stimuli category ratings with absolute estimates in terms of ounces, and found that the latter measure yields a smaller, but nevertheless SUbstantial, context effect; thus purely semantic factors, while probably contributing to the effect usually obtained with the method of single stimuli, seem by no means wholly to account for it. In a first attempt to bring the advantages of the method of constant stimuli to bear on this problem, Dinnerstein (1965) showed that the weight (light vs heavy) of a steady nonjudged "anchor," lifted repeatedly in the left hand while S makes successive comparisons between s and v in the right hand, affects the locus of maximally accurate discrimination within the v series, confirming Helson's (1948) contention that the location of the range of currently-attended-to stimuli determines the location of the zone within which S's discriminations are most sensitive. The present study, employing a new, more direct technique, addresses itself to intermanual context effects, not merely on discriminative sensiti vity, but on phenomenal heaviness itself.…”

Does context influence the shape of a perceptual scale?

“…A study by Dinnerstein (1965), although not specifically concerned with perceptual scaling, provides some evidence which lends generality to the results of the present experiments. In her experiment, Ss performed the classical task of weight discrimination using the method of constant stimuli.…”

Some perceptual determinants of perceived similarity, liking, and correctness.

“…Although there is no evidence regarding this effect on discrimination among background stimuli, previous research (Dinnerstein, 1958(Dinnerstein, , 1965McGarvey, 1942McGarvey, -1943Rogers, 1941) has demonstrated that discrimination among focal stimuli decreases following presentation of a dissimilar background stimulus.…”