A constructive-associative model of the contextual dependence of unidimensional similarity

Conditions under which pairwise dissimilarity ratings should reflect manipulations of the stimulus distribution were outlined by a model that proposed these effects. These conditions arise from either a context dependent process for constructing implicit scale values or a process that uses previously established stimulus-response associates. Consistent with the model, results from 3 experiments using unidimensional psychophysical stimuli demonstrated disordinal context effects on pairwise dissimilarity ratings when (a) there was a 3-s delay between presentation of pair members or (b) a unidimensional rating task preceded the pairwise dissimilarity ratings. Global effects of density were fit well by a model that extended A. Parducci's (1983) range-frequency theory to dissimilarity ratings. Local density effects were generally consistent with predictions from C.L.Krumhansl's (1978) distance-density theory.