Bias effects on magnitude and ratio estimation power function exponents.

Abstract

A bias model of relative judgment was used to derive a ratio estimation (RE) power function, and its effectiveness in providing estimates of exponents free of the effects of standards was evaluated. The RE bias model was compared with the simple RE power function that ignores bias. Results showed that when bias was not taken into account, estimates of exponents exhibited the usual effects of standards observed in previous research. However, the introduction of bias parameters into the RE power function virtually eliminated these effects. Exponents calculated from "equal-range segments" (e.g., low stimulus range vs. high stimulus range) judged by magnitude estimation (ME) were examined: the effects of equal-range segments on exponents were much stronger for ME than standards were for RE, using the bias model.