Which of the following possibilities threatens the transitivity of a stimulus scale? (circle all that apply)
A) not all participants are equally familiar with all presented stimuli
B) some stimuli may be harder to distinguish (between the two of them) than others
C) respondents' differences in ranking or scaling reflect actual individual differences
D) stimuli were apparently judged on different aspects of the same comparison dimension

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Transitivity of a stimulus scale is threatened when not all participants are equally familiar with all presented stimuli (A), making their judgments inconsistent. If some stimuli are harder to distinguish than others (B), it can lead to irregularities in scaling, affecting transitivity. When stimuli are judged on different aspects of the same comparison dimension (D), it introduces variability in the basis of judgment, undermining the consistency and transitivity of the scale. Individual differences in responses (C) do not inherently threaten transitivity, as they can reflect true variations in perception or preference among individuals.

Which of the Following Possibilities Threatens the Transitivity of a Stimulus