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An experimental study of the asymmetry effect in the method of constant stimuli

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Summary

The asymmetry effect (AE) in the method of constant stimuli refers to the dependence of the sign and of the magnitude of the constant error on the position of the standard (S) within the range of the variable (V) stimuli. The AE is known to occur when S and V appear in succession. The experiment reported here shows that the AE also occurs when S and V are simultaneous. This result allows us to conclude that the AE is not a memory effect, and that it is plausible to suppose that it depends on a factor of judgment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Philosophy, Pedagogics, and Teaching of Modern Languages, University of Udine, Via Antonini 8, I-33100, Udine, Italy

    S. C. Masin

  2. Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Piazza Capitaniato 3, I-35100, Padua, Italy

    V. Fanton & L. Crestoni

Authors
  1. S. C. Masin
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  2. V. Fanton
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  3. L. Crestoni
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Research subsidized by CNR

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Masin, S.C., Fanton, V. & Crestoni, L. An experimental study of the asymmetry effect in the method of constant stimuli. Psychol. Res 50, 181–182 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310179

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310179

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