You are taking a hot bath, and you can just detect the difference between a water temperature of 100 and 102 degrees. This would indicate, according to the German physiologist E. H. Weber, that __________.
A) we are sensitive to changes on the order of 2 degrees
B) we are sensitive to proportional differences, in this instance, of 2%
C) we are geared to notice absolute differences, not percentage differences
D) our response criteria are not unreasonably high

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Weber's law states that the just noticeable difference between two stimuli is proportional to the magnitude of the stimuli. In this case, the difference between 100 and 102 degrees represents a 2% change in temperature, which is consistent with Weber's law. Therefore, we are sensitive to proportional differences, not absolute differences.

You Are Taking a Hot Bath, and You Can Just