just-noticeable difference
- noun
- Specialized
:
diferencia apenas perceptible
- To measure the just-noticeable difference, the researchers adjusted the weight gradually until participants could detect a change.
Examples
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In a series of tests, she determined the just-noticeable difference for light intensity.
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The just-noticeable difference in sound levels was barely perceptible to the audience.
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Delta F is the just noticeable difference for frequency.
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This is based on the psychological principle of the Just Noticeable Difference.
Blog text (3) -
Another consideration, discussed by Sechrest et al. (1996), is that the just noticeable difference is often conceptualized in terms of social validity, or how well the intervention produces behavioral changes that are considered socially desirable and important.
Academic text (2014)
Synonyms
The smallest change in what you see, hear, or feel that people notice half the time
The smallest change in how strong a sound, touch, or light feels that a person can notice
The smallest change in a thing, like sound, light or weight, that a person can notice
The smallest change in something, like light or taste, that a person can notice
The smallest change in what you see, hear, or taste that a person can notice
How Noticeable
- Informal
9
3.9
∞
1.0
- Specialized
9
7.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
just-noticeable + difference
The meaning is compositionally built from 'just' (barely) + 'noticeable' (able to be perceived) + 'difference' (amount by which items differ), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it refers to the smallest/perceptible difference. Although used as a technical term in psychology, the core sense is directly derivable from the parts and is cross-linguistically transparent.
Etymology
Just-noticeable difference comes from simple tests where people compare two things and say when they 'just' notice a change, for example adding a very small weight until the second one feels heavier. The parts just-noticeable and difference show why it means the smallest change a person can detect.