Measurement of kinaesthetic sensitivity

Two recent papers (Laszlo and Bairstow 1980, Bairstow and Laszlo 1981) have used the method of constant stimuli to measure kinaesthetic difference thresholds. If this method is used, however, certain constraints must be observed: these concern the values of the stimuli relative to the threshold, and the numbers of observations made at each value. Laszlo and Bairstow appear to have neglected these constraints, which must cast doubt on their results. In any case, the method of constant stimuli has largely been superseded by staircase techniques for threshold estimation, on grounds of economy of trials for a given level of accuracy in estimation. It is concluded, therefore, that the details of the method as described by Laszlo and Bairstow are unsuitable for testing kinaesthetic sensitivity, and that other methods are preferable.