Abstract
Individual scales of odor intensity were obtained for 28 different chemical compounds by the method of magnitude estimation. Eleven Ss participated in an experiment with 196 olfactory stimuli which differed in both quality and intensity. It was found (1) that power functions described the relationship between partial vapor pressure of the odorants and their subjective odor intensity for all Ss, (2) that all exponents were less than one but varied greatly between Ss, (3) that consistent intraindividual differences in the exponents of different odorants exist, and (4) that these are attributable to perceptual differences rather than to response bias.
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This research was carried out while Trygg Engen (Walter S. Hunter Laboratory of Psychology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912) was visiting the Perception and Psychophysics Unit of the Psychological Laboratories, University of Stockholm. The study was supported by grants from the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Fund and the Swedish Council for Social Science Research. The authors are indebted to Dr. W. S. Dockens III ror assistance in the experimental work and to Mr. J. Ernfridsson and Dr. E. Högfeldt for assistance with the chemical analysis.
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Berglund, B., Berglund, U., Ekman, G. et al. Individual psychophysical functions for 28 odorants. Perception & Psychophysics 9, 379–384 (1971). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212672
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212672