Sound Measurements for Psychophysical Tests

Abstract

The results of psychophysical tests on the auditory sensory system usually show much more variability than experiments involving only physical measurements of sound waves. This has resulted in the general impression that the variance of thresholds of acuity and other hearing measurements is largely due to the inability of the observers to give consistent responses. This paper reports the results of a series of threshold measurements made under carefully controlled conditions and accompanied by search tube measurements of sound pressures in the ear canals of the observers. The small variances obtained suggest that the large variability usually experienced in psychophysical work may be partly due to inadequate techniques for measuring the levels of the stimuli that activate the sensory system.