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APE: Adaptive probit estimation of psychometric functions

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Current Psychological Reviews

Abstract

APE is a psychophysical procedure designed to estimate complete psychometric functions with maximum statistical efficiency in return for minimum subject labour. It is based on the classical Method of Constant Stimuli, but differs in that only certain stimuli from the whole set available are tested. APE selects those stimulus levels at which the most information concerning the psychometric function is to be gained, updating this selection in the light of recent response history.

The performance of APE is compared with that of the classical Method by Monte-Carlo testing and is shown to be superior in several respects. First, the standard errors obtained are all smaller (reliability is higher). Moreover, APE is shown to be considerably more tolerant of the necessarily arbitrary decisions concerning stimulus levels to be tested. In practice this would increase the accuracy of the estimates obtained.

APE has been used for a wide variety of tasks, and is available as a FORTRAN II computer subprogram from the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University College, London

    R. J. Watt & D. P. Andrews

Authors
  1. R. J. Watt
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  2. D. P. Andrews
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Watt, R.J., Andrews, D.P. APE: Adaptive probit estimation of psychometric functions. Current Psychological Reviews 1, 205–213 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02979265

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02979265

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