Quantitative Judgement in Social Perception*

Stimuli which form a series may differ from each other in their physical magnitudes and in their value to the subject; they may also be classified according to various attributes. A theoretical schema is presented which is based on some assumptions about the effects of the interaction of these three variables upon absolute judgements pertaining to series of stimuli. These assumptions allow for predictions of shifts of judgement in a number of series in which these variables are found in various combinations. Many of these combinations are representative of conditions under which judgements in social situations are made. An attempt is also made to apply some predictions following from the schema to judgements involving not only physical but also abstract continua.