Contextuality in Random Variables : A Systematic Introduction

Dzhafarov, Ehtibar N./ Kujala, Janne V./ Cervantes, Víctor H.

Cambridge University Press（2026/03発売）

• 製本 Paperback:紙装版/ペーパーバック版／ページ数 484 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9781009852678
• DDC分類 530.12

Full Description

The mathematical essence of contextuality lies in the similarity of random variables answering the same question in different contexts: contextuality means they are less similar when considered within their respective contexts than when isolated from them. This book presents a principled way of measuring this similarity and distinguishing two forms of context-dependence: contextuality and disturbance. While applicable across a broad range of disciplines, the concept of contextuality in this book is closest to that in quantum physics, where its special forms -in the absence of disturbance - are known as Bell nonlocality and Kochen-Specker contextuality. This systematic introduction requires no prior familiarity with the subject and a very modest mathematical background. Structured as a textbook, complete with exercises and solutions, it is accessible to a broad readership and suitable for teaching. It will be useful to researchers and students in quantum mechanics, philosophy of science, psychology, computer science, linguistics, and probability theory.

Contents

1. Preliminaries; 2. Context-dependence and contextuality; 3. Random variables; 4. Systems and their couplings; 5. Contextuality I: basic properties; 6. Contextuality II: dichotomizations and criteria of contextuality; 7. Cyclic systems; 8. Consistently connected and consistified systems; 9. Hidden variable models; 10. Measures of the degree of contextuality; 11. Noncontextuality polytopes for cyclic systems; Index.