The parameters in the near-miss-to-Weber's law

Abstract: Many empirical data support the hypothesis that the sensitivity function grows as a power function of the stimulus intensity. This is usually referred to as the near-miss-to-Weber''s law. The aim of the paper is to examine the near-miss-to-Weber''s law in the context of psychometric models of discrimination. We study two types of psychometric functions, characterized by the representations (type A), and (type B). A central result shows that both types of psychometric functions are compatible with the near-miss-to-Weber''s law. If a representation of type B exists, then the exponent in the near-miss is necessarily a constant function, that is, does not depend on the criterion value used to define “just noticeably different”. If, on the other hand, a representation of type A exists, then the exponent in the near-miss-to-Weber''s law can vary with the criterion value. In that case, the parameters in the near-miss co-vary systematically. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]