The Multiple Criterion Technique of Subjective Appraisal

Abstract

A technique is described by which, the quantitative connection between physical aspects of a stimulus situation and subjective aspects of the perceptual response may be conveniently and reliably determined. The subject is given control of one of the significant physical variables such, for instance, as brightness, and is asked to set this variable to correspond In turn with a limited number of defined criteria relating to a subjective variable such as glare-discomfort It is found that each criterion acts as a check upon judgments made in terms of the others, so that the scatter of the control settings Is less than when a single criterion is used The functional relationship between the physical and the subjective variable can be estimated, and provided care Is taken in the design of the experiment and In the selection of observers, consistent results are obtained. This technique has been applied during the past ten years to a wide range of visual problems which Include those of the visibility of radar echoes, the visibility of street-lighting from the air, discomfort-glare and ease of reading. It Is thought that It might find wide application not only in applied Psychological work but in the investigation of problems of theoretical import.