
Contextuality in Random Variables
A Systematic Introduction
Cambridge University Press
Published on 2. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
484 pages
978-1-009-85267-8 (ISBN)
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.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
828 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-009-85267-8 (9781009852678)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Ehtibar N. Dzhafarov | Janne V. Kujala | Victor H. Cervantes
Contextuality in Random Variables
A Systematic Introduction
Book
approx. 02/2026
Cambridge University Press
€209.90
Not yet published
Persons
Ehtibar N. Dzhafarov is Professor Emeritus at Purdue University, USA. He has published over 170 papers in psychology, mathematics, philosophy, and foundations of quantum mechanics, and he has edited six books and four special journal issues. He served as President of the Society for Mathematical Psychology and has received a Humboldt Research Award.
Content
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.