Remarks on the test of significance for the method of paired comparisons

A three-component model for comparative judgment which allows for individual differences in preference is proposed. An implication of the model is that errors in the observed proportions due to sampling individuals in paired comparisons experiments are correlated. By neglecting this correlation, Mosteller's test for the method of paired comparisons tends to accept falsely the goodness of fit of the Case V solution. It is shown that bounds may be set for the correlation effect which make a valid test possible in some cases and provide useful standard errors for the estimated affective values.Preparation of this paper has been supported in part by the Quartermaster Food and Container Institute for the Armed Forces. Views and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsement of the Department of Defense. Comments of one of the reviewers, which substantially improved an earlier version of this paper, are gratefully acknowledged.