Two groups of untrained observers rated scenes of work from a performance-rating training film, for either speed (Group 1) or efficiency (Group 2). Standard magnitude-estimation procedures were employed, and it was found that both speed and efficiency were rateable stimulus dimensions, giving rise to consistent judgments. When plotted against the ratings of trained practitioners, the power-law exponents were 1.7 for speed and 3.0 for efficiency. The latter value suggests a high degree of sensitivity to small perceived changes in this dimension, although its objective correlates remain to be established.
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