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Methods to calculate absolute threshold

Definition of threshold
The word threshold and its Latin equivalent, limen means essentially
what one would guess: a boundary separating the stimuli that elicit one response from the stimuli
that elicit or evoke a different responses. Threshold is a dividing line between what has
detectable energy and what does not.

Absolute threshold
Stimulus threshold is also called absolute threshold of sensation and
refers to ‘the value of a quantitative variable at which a stimulus is just detectable.

The absolute threshold is the 50 per cent point.

Example

A ticking watch is kept at a certain distance from your ear and you are not able to hear it because
its intensity is below the point on the physical continuum but when it is brought near , you are
able to hear its ticking sound which makes you feel it presence. This is the absolute threshold

Psychophysical methods
The methods used to study the stimulus –response relationship in
which stimuli are varied along a physical dimension are commonly called psychophysical
methods.

Method of limits
This method is also known as method of minimal changes and method of
just noticeable difference.

The basic idea of establishing limits is contained in all variations of method of limits. Usually
this method is used to determine the threshold of subject’s sensitivity. The procedure involved in
this method consist of the experimenter’s gradually lowering the intensity of a stimulus until, it is
no longer perceived by the subject or by decreasing –increasing the value of two stimuli until it
becomes just noticeable different (j.n.d).
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Measurement of absolute threshold

The determination of the absolute threshold in this
method is most accurately performed by using an ascending and descending series of
presentation. The experimenter gradually increases in an ascending series the stimuli value from
a point well below the possible threshold of the subject reports sensation of the stimulus.

The experimenter then explores the series in a descending manner by lowering the stimulus from
a point well above the sensation point to point where the subject reports the no sensation of the
stimulus. Both types of trials are repeated several time to provide a more reliable estimate of the
threshold .the mid-point between these two determine points is taken as absolute threshold.

Explanation

The application of this method in the determination of two- point threshold is usually done to
demonstrate the difference in cutaneous sensitivity in one part of the body as compared to
another part and find out just how far apart the two points of aesthesiometer must be for the
subject to report that she or he feels two points instead of one .the experimenter as such applies
to the subject‘s upper arm the two points of aesthesiometer when they are very close together.

The subject is blindfolded and the procedure is explained to her or him so that she or he
understand that he or she is to report whether one or two points are stimulating her or him.
Several trials are taken in ascending series by increasing the distance between the two points
until the subject reports two points. The descending series of trials conducted in the same manner
starting with points very far apart and descending the distance throughout the trials until the
subject reports one point.

Calculation
The calculation of the two-point threshold of the subject from these data
involves finding the average of all the thresholds discovered as the result of the ascending and
descending series. The following table is a representation of one such experiment:
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Distance in A D A D A D A D A D
mm
23 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

22 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

21 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

20 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

19 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

18 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
17 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
16 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1
15 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1

14 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Transition 16.5 15.5 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5 15.5 14.5 16.5 16.5
points

Formula

Mean of transition points = ∑X /N = Sum of all transition points/ Number of transition

points

Sum of all transition points

=16.5+15.5+16.5+16.5+16.5+16.5+15.5+14.5+16.5+16.5

= 161

Number of transition points = 10

Mean of the transition points = 161/10 = 16.10mm

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Thus the mean of individual threshold would define our accepted absolute threshold value –that
stimulus value which will elicit a response 50 per cent of the time.

The use of both ascending and descending series also helps researchers take account of two
common tendencies. The first, referred to as error of habituation , is participant’s tendency to
continue to say no in an ascending series and yes in a descending series -------independent of
whether the participant actually hears the sound. The second, termed as error of anticipation, is
people’s tendency to change their response to a stimulus before such a change is warranted.

Method of constant stimuli

This method is also known as frequency method, method of right and wrong cases.

According to Woodworth,
The constant method is the most accurate and most widely applicable
of all psychophysical methods. It eliminates experimental errors as found in the method of limits
and method of average error.

In this method of constant stimuli, the range of sound intensities to be tested is selected in
advance, and each stimulus is presented many times in an irregular order. Stimuli are chosen so
that some stimuli are below the threshold and others are at or above the threshold. In the method
of limits. The subject is presented a stimulus of gradually changing magnitude and is asked to
report when the experience cease or when the experience starts but “in the method of constant
stimuli, each trial consist of the presentation of an invariable stimulus and the subject is asked to
report its presence or absence” (Underwood). Here, the stimuli are not present in an ascending or
descending order of magnitude but rather in a random order.

Measurement of absolute threshold

In the usual application of this method, the subject is
confronted or faced with the task of reporting to the experimenter whether one stimulus or two
points of aesthesiometer are felt by him. The experimenter by the preliminary work determines
the approximate value of the subject’s absolute threshold. Then a series of stimuli is chosen
extending from well below to well above the threshold in random order and the subject’s
responses are noted accordingly.
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Calculation
Trials

Distance in mm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
19 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
18 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 2
17 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2
16 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 1
15 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1
14 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2
13 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1

Frequency of judgments

Distance in mm One-point sensation Two-point sensation % of two-point sensation

19 1 9 90
18 2 8 80
17 3 7 70
16 4 6 60
15 5 5 50
14 7 3 30
13 8 2 20

Formula
The following formula is applied for calculating the Reiz limen (RL) or absolute threshold or
stimulus threshold.

RL = Db (50-a) + Da (b-50)/ (b-a)

Where

Db is the stimulus value about 50% response = 16

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b is the % of value for Db = 60

Da is the stimulus value giving below 50% response = 15

a is the % value for Da = 50

As such

RL = 16 (50-50) + 15 (60-50)/60-50

RL = 0 + 150/ 10

RL = 15

References
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Hardeep .K.S, Experimental Psychology., consultant counsellor and psychotherapist and former
faculty, Trinity College Jalandhar, Punjab.