Measuring Sensory Absolute Thresholds

Hard Unit 3: Sensation & Perception Sensory Processes

Sensation is the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.

In relation to sensory processes, certain factors can influence our detection of stimuli. One concept that is particularly important to consider is 'absolute threshold,' which is defined as the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time. This threshold varies between individuals and can depend on various factors including the intensity of the stimulus and the individual's sensory sensitivity.

Consider the experiment conducted by psychophysicist Gustav Fechner, who aimed to determine the absolute thresholds for various senses. Based on his research, which of the following options explains what is usually the most effective method for measuring these absolute thresholds when testing different sensory modalities?

Using a simple reaction time measurement to see how quickly one can respond to a stimulus.

Utilizing a staircase method, where stimulus intensities are varied based on the participant's responses.

Asking participants to rate the intensity of stimuli on a numerical scale when differentiating thresholds.

Conducting interviews to understand participant experiences with the stimuli.

Simply averaging the responses of many participants to establish a baseline threshold.

Hint

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