Intuitive averaging of categorized numerical stimuli

Malmi, Robert A.; Samson, David J

doi:10.1016/s0022-5371(83)90337-7

Cited by 37 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We have argued that this effect comes about because people are capable of inducing the metric properties of a target dimension from a set of numerical facts. This is consistent with the research on intuitive averaging; these studies have demonstrated that people are remarkably good at estimating the statistical properties of a set of numbers, even when the numbers are presented at a very rapid rate (Malmi & Samson, 1983;Spencer, 1961). It has been assumed that the same numerical induction process that people employ when they perform a numerical averaging task is used to Create and revise metric beliefs.…”

Section: A Setting and Measuring The Metricsupporting

confidence: 82%

Real-world estimation: Estimation modes and seeding effects

Brown¹

2002

Psychology of Learning and Motivation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: A Setting and Measuring The Metricsupporting

confidence: 82%

Real-world estimation: Estimation modes and seeding effects

Brown¹

2002

Psychology of Learning and Motivation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Although the distributions were positively skewed, Malmi and Samson (1983) did not find a bias in estimates of the average of numbers, although Spencer (1963) did. Discrepancies between these studies using skewed distributions suggest that one cannot easily generalize results from one stimulus material to another, and that methods of presentation and response matter.…”

Section: Influences Of Distributional Properties On Estimate Of Averagementioning

confidence: 73%

“…On the other Running head: ESTIMATING AVERAGES OF DURATIONS 8 hand, estimates of average are not always influenced by irrelevant stimuli. Malmi and Samson (1983) found that participants were able to separately estimate averages of two sets of stimuli randomly intermixed in a sequence. In a visual averaging task, Morgan et al (2000) found that when asked to do so, participants could make a judgment about the average of a specific sample of stimuli, ignoring other stimuli.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Estimating averages from distributions of tone durations

Schweickert

Han

Yamaguchi

et al. 2013

Atten Percept Psychophys

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Our previous research on how people estimate the average value of a category (Malmi & Samson, 1983) suggests that people have a representation of the distribution of stimuli in memory. It may be that people can represent bivariate distribution of stimuli and "fit" a linear function to relate the distributions of stimuli.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intuitive covariation estimation

Malmi

1986

Mem Cogn

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Six experiments concerned people's ability to estimate the degree and sign of covariation represented in a bivariate distribution of stimuli with which they had just been presented as a series of pairs of stimuli. The stimuli were pairs of numbers, pairs of lines of variable lengths, or word-line pairs. In the latter case, subjects were asked to think of the words in terms of either pleasantness or familiarity; hence, the covariation relationship was between the normative pleasantness or familiarity value of the word and a line of variable length. In the sixth experiment, subjects were presented with two word-line pairs and were asked to access the covariation of both simultaneously. In most cases, the estimates reflected the sign and degree of covariation of the stimuli quite well. The estimates did not reflect accurately the stimulus covariation when the stimuli were numerical and the sign of the correlation of the stimuli was negative. A distinction is made between intuitive and strategic processes in the assessment of covariation.The ability to predict and estimate characteristics of people, events, and things would seem to be essential in everyday interactions. Knowing that certain behaviors of other people tend to be associated with other behaviors allows one to prepare for the future and behave appropriately. One way to view predictive ability and the knowledge upon which it is based is to consider that it results in part from assessments of the covariation of stimuli derived from experience. That is, one learns from experience that certain kinds of social signals from another person are associated with aggression, affection, or other tendencies. One could view these signals as being correlated with the tendencies. As with most correlations, the relationship is not perfect and has some uncertainty associated with it.Previous research indicates that people are generally quite poor at judgments about the actual degree of covariation represented in stimuli they inspect (Nisbett & Ross, 1980). Studies have been reported in which subjects were shown pairs of correlated stimuli, such as letters, representing symptoms and diagnoses (Smeldelund, 1963), mood and the weather (Shaklee & Mims, 1982), and so on. Sometimes the stimuli have been presented in tabular form (see Beyth-Marom, 1982, for a summary). Another popular method used to study covariation assessment has been to show subjects a number, ask for a prediction about the value of its pair, and then show the correlated pair as feedback (Birnbaum, 1976;

show abstract

Intuitive averaging of categorized numerical stimuli

Cited by 37 publications

References 19 publications

Real-world estimation: Estimation modes and seeding effects

Real-world estimation: Estimation modes and seeding effects

Estimating averages from distributions of tone durations

Intuitive covariation estimation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About