Towards a Measurement Theory for Consciousness Science

Measurement is an integral part of consciousness science. Correspondingly, a host of measurement techniques have been developed and refined over the past decades. These techniques include measures of consciousness to infer whether an experiencer has consciously perceived a stimulus, as well as C-tests, which allow to infer whether an experiencer is capable of having conscious experiences.

What is currently lacking in the field, however, is a substantive theory that ties the different approaches together, and allows to compare, contrast, or differentiate between them. Such theories, called measurement theories, play an integral role in fields like psychology, economics, or physics.

The goal of this workshop is to invite reflection about measurement theories in consciousness science. It aims to prompt discussion of:

• Goals and Desiderata of a Measurement Theory in Consciousness Science: What are the specific problems or challenges in consciousness science that a measurement theory could/would solve? What would the theory have to achieve in order to be useful?
• Feasibility of a Measurement Theory in Consciousness Science: Is consciousness science at a stage where a measurement theory is possible? What are unique features of measurement in consciousness science that a measurement theory should accommodate?
• State of the Art and Existing Work: Is there existing work that might pave the way for a measurement theory for consciousness? What is the state of the art of the theoretical understanding of measurement in the field?
• Comparison with Other Fields: What is required for a good measurement theory in psychology or (cognitive) neuroscience, and which measurement theories exist in these fields? Can these be applied to or helpful for measurement in consciousness science?

To facilitate these discussions, the workshop brings together a group of leading experts that work on, or have extensively thought about, questions of measurement in consciousness and cognition.

If you would like to participate in this workshop via Zoom, please apply as instructed below.