Summary
This paper describes an extension of Preferred State Theory (Baird, 1975) to deal with matching functions produced by such techniques as magnitude and category estimation. It is assumed by this theory that all stimulus attributes are transformed into perceptual states according to the operation of mathematical base systems. Intensities are matched across attributes in terms of the number of preferred states generated by each. The theory provides quantitative explanations for a variety of psychophysical effects, including the prothetic-metathetic distinction, the selective applicability of Fechner's and Stevens' laws, and the success of transitivity tests among exponents.
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This article is the last in a series. The ideas discussed here were first presented at the 1973 meetings of the Psychonomic Society. I am grateful to Charles Lewis, Elliot Noma, and Stephen Weissmann for their encouragement and advice on many aspects of the work.
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Baird, J.C. Psychophysical study of Numbers. Psychol. Res 38, 189–207 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00308524
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00308524