Stanley Smith Stevens

Stanley Smith Stevens (November 4, 1906 – January 18, 1973) was an American psychologist known for his work in psychophysics and for developing the Stevens' power law. He was a prominent figure in the field of experimental psychology and made significant contributions to the understanding of sensory perception.

Early Life and Education

Stanley Smith Stevens was born in Ogden, Utah. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Utah and later earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1933. His doctoral research focused on the quantitative measurement of sensation, which laid the groundwork for his future contributions to psychophysics.

Career and Research

Stevens spent the majority of his career at Harvard University, where he served as a professor and conducted extensive research in psychophysics. He is best known for formulating Stevens' power law, which describes the relationship between the magnitude of a physical stimulus and its perceived intensity. This law challenged the previously established Fechner's law and provided a more accurate model for understanding sensory perception.

In addition to his work on Stevens' power law, he developed the concept of levels of measurement, which includes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales. These levels of measurement are fundamental in the fields of statistics and research methodology.

Contributions to Psychophysics

Stevens' contributions to psychophysics include the development of methods for measuring sensory experiences and the establishment of a framework for understanding the relationship between physical stimuli and their psychological effects. His work has had a lasting impact on the study of perception and has influenced various fields, including audiology, vision science, and neuroscience.

Personal Life

Stanley Smith Stevens was married to Maxine Leonard Stevens, and they had two children. He passed away on January 18, 1973, in Vail, Colorado.

Legacy

Stevens' work continues to be influential in the fields of psychology and sensory science. His theories and methodologies are widely taught in psychology programs and are used in various applications, from clinical psychology to human-computer interaction.

See Also

• Psychophysics
• Stevens' power law
• Levels of measurement
• Experimental psychology
• Sensory perception