Mathematical psychology

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Mathematical Psychology is an approach to psychological research that is based on mathematical modeling. Such mathematical modeling allows to derive more exact hypotheses and, therefore, stricter empirical validations.

Mathematical psychology is closely related to psychometrics and statistics. The models used are mostly probabilistic but there are also discrete ones. It is used in many fields of psychology, especially in psychophysics, perception, cognitive psychology, and psychology of learning but also, e.g., in clinical psychology, social psychology, or psychology of music.

Central journals are the Journal of Mathematical Psychology and the British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology. There are two annual conferences in the field, the annual meeting of the Society for Mathematical Psychology in the U.S, and the annual European Mathematical Psychology Group (EMPG) meeting.