Question

In what way does the overall magnitude of a stimulus affect the just-noticeable difference in the perception of that stimulus?

a) A larger stimulus decreases the just-noticeable difference.
b) A larger stimulus increases the just-noticeable difference.
c) The magnitude of a stimulus has no effect on the just-noticeable difference.
d) The relationship between magnitude and just-noticeable difference is unpredictable.

Answer 1

The magnitude of a stimulus affects the just-noticeable difference, with a larger stimulus requiring a larger difference to be perceived, following Weber's Law.

Step-by-step explanation:

The overall magnitude of a stimulus does indeed affect the just-noticeable difference (jnd) needed for a person to perceive that two stimuli are different. According to Weber's Law, the difference threshold is a constant fraction of the comparison stimulus. Therefore, the correct answer is that a larger stimulus increases the just-noticeable difference. For instance, if you are holding a weight of 100 grams, you might need an additional 2 grams to notice a difference. However, if you are holding a weight of 1 kilogram, you might require 20 grams to notice the change. This proportion remains constant even as the magnitude of the stimulus increases.