Generalization of a reference scale for judging pitch.

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Abstract
When sounds are judged for pitch, each sound being called "high" or "low," the results show that the judgments are made in reference to a subjective scale of pitch, the midpoint of which can be calculated from the obtained judgments. Theoretical considerations, based on previous knowledge of receptor function and generalization along a stimulus continuum, suggest that the midpoint of a subjective scale is the geometric mean of the stimulus values, expressed in cycles per sec., used in any one expt. As a test of the theory a variety of series of sounds was presented to college students for judgment and the empirical results are found to agree well with theoretical predictions.

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