The ascending-descending procedure is known as what in the context of establishing thresholds?

The ascending-descending procedure is commonly referred to as bracketing in the context of establishing thresholds. This method involves presenting a stimulus at various levels, starting either from a level the individual can hear or one they cannot, and gradually adjusting the intensity of the stimulus based on the person's responses. When the participant indicates they can hear the sound, the intensity is decreased, and when they can no longer hear it, the intensity is increased again. This back-and-forth approach helps to accurately determine the threshold level at which the individual can detect the sound.

Bracketing is effective because it allows for a systematic exploration of the individual's hearing capabilities, ensuring a reliable estimate of hearing thresholds. The process is typically repeated several times to confirm the threshold, contributing to its reliability. This technique is differentiable from terms like adjustment, which might imply a more arbitrary or less structured approach. Calibration specifically refers to ensuring that the testing equipment is functioning correctly, rather than the method of determining thresholds. Thresholding could be a broader term but does not specifically encapsulate the iterative nature of the bracketing process.