Final answer:
The uncertainty around Sukhvinder's experimentally-determined absolute threshold can be explained by individual sensitivity differences, attention levels, subliminal stimulation, and environmental context. These factors affect the psychometric function plotting detection probabilities against stimulus intensities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a classical psychophysics experiment where Sukhvinder was presented with flashes of light of varying intensities, the observation of an ogive psychometric function represents the relationship between stimulus intensity and Sukhvinder's detection of the light. This function indicates that the absolute threshold, the minimum stimulus energy needed to be detected 50% of the time, can be subject to uncertainty due to various factors. For instance, uncertainty may arise from individual differences in sensory sensitivity, fluctuations in attention, the presence of subliminal messages, or variability in the environmental context.
Experimentally, the absolute threshold is assessed under highly controlled conditions to optimize sensitivity detection. However, the concept of the just noticeable difference (jnd) or difference threshold illustrates that the detection of differences in stimuli varies depending on context, as explained by Weber's law. Moreover, the adaptability of the sensory system can contribute to uncertainty, as demonstrated in experiments where visual perception adjusts over time to inverted images through the use of prism glasses.