Abstract
A new, maximally efficient technique for measuring psychophysical thresholds (Pentland, 1980) has been implemented on the microcomputer. This PEST (parameter estimation by sequential testing) technique is the most efficient sequential parameter estimation technique possible, given that the form of the psychometric function is known. The technique is similar to but faster and more accurate than other staircase procedures and may be applied whenever staircase techniques are applicable. The “Best PEST” is easily implemented on the micro-computer; a BASIC program for the Apple II which does so is presented. The Best PEST is compared with other staircase procedures, including one recently implemented on a micro-computer (Corwin, Kintz, & Beaty, 1979).
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Funding for this research was provided by NSF Grant MCS79-23110 (to H. R. Lieberman and A. P. Pentland) and by NIH Training Grant 5 T32 GM07484 (to A. P. Pentland). Additional funding was provided by NIH Grant 5 P30 EY02621. We thank Terry Allard for his careful reading of the manuscript and Carol Papineau for technical assistance.
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Lieberman, H.R., Pentland, A.P. Microcomputer-based estimation of psychophysical thresholds: The Best PEST. Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation 14, 21–25 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03202110
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03202110
Keywords
- Psychometric Function
- Prob Array
- Corwin
- Staircase Procedure
- Initial Step Size