Empirical Scaling of Common Numerical Probabilities Verbal Phrases
1967
Probability theory is one tool we use to deal with the uncertainty of future events. The result of a probability calculation of an event that has not yet occurred is a number varying from 0 to 1. This number expresses the likelihood of that event occurring. There are many verbal phrases that also are used to express intuitively the notion of the likelihood of an event.
One hundred eighty-eight subjects were given numerical probability estimates for each of 41 probability-related words and phrases. While the responses were reasonably consistent, asymmetry between mirror-image phrases, e.g., quite likely (.79) and quite unlikely (.11), were found.
Adapted from publication abstract.
Empirical Scaling of Common Numerical Probabilities Verbal Phrases
Source:
Lichtenstein S, Newman JR. Empirical Scaling of Common Verbal Phrases Associated with Numerical Probabilities. Psychonomic Science 1967; 9 (10): 563-564. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327890