Confidence in consciousness research.

Confidence-based procedures, which use metacognitive indicators to determine whether subjects consciously perceive stimuli, are valid and accurate enough for practical and scientific purposes in consciousness research. This article reviews common objections to these procedures and concludes they are appropriate for assessing conscious perception.

Study at a glance

Abstract

To study (un)conscious perception and test hypotheses about consciousness, researchers need procedures for determining whether subjects consciously perceive stimuli or not. This article is an introduction to a family of procedures called "confidence-based procedures," which consist in interpreting metacognitive indicators as indicators of consciousness. I assess the validity and accuracy of these procedures, and answer a series of common objections to their use in consciousness research. I conclude that confidence-based procedures are valid for assessing consciousness, and, in most cases, accurate enough for our practical and scientific purposes. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Perception and Psychophysics Philosophy > Consciousness.