An analysis of the unit of measurement of the galvanic skin response.

Abstract

The palmar skin resistance levels and galvanic skin responses of 92 male subjects were detd. in an effort to discover which of several possible units for specifying the galvanic skin response (GSR) might be appropriate. The units were tested for acceptability by 2 criteria: (1) Independence[long dash]In order that GSR''s obtained from subjects differing in basal level may be validly compared, the GSR scores must be independent of basal level. (2) Normality[long dash]In order that data may be amenable to ordinary statistical treatment the GSR scores must not violate the assumption of normality in the parent population. The results obtained indicate that only change in conductance and logarithm change in conductance are acceptable in terms of these 2 criteria. In view of the greater ease of computation of change in conductance this measure is recommended as the appropriate and convenient unit for specification of the GSR.