Criterion Control in Signal Detection

Abstract

Observers were required to detect a signal that underwent a decrease in probability of occurrence throughout a session. Contrary to what might be expected with the "ideal observer" hypothesis of signal detection theory, changes in the proportions of hits and false alarms, as well as in their associated response times and confidence ratings, indicated that observers reacted to the decrease in signal probability by adopting a less stringent criterion for making signal responses. The empirical pattern of changes in response proportions is compared with that predicted by a response stabilization process. An adaptation----level hypothesis is then proposed, in which the cutoff adopted by the observer is equal to the cumulatively based mean of all the sensory intensities experienced by the observer up to that trial. Such a mechanism for criterion control offers a simple but very general explanation for criterion changes in signal detection.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Baddeley, A. D. and Colquhoun, W. P. Signal probability and vigilance: A reappraisal of the “signal rate” effect. British Journal of Psychology, 1969, 60, 169–178.

Bakan, P. , Belton, J. A. and Toth, J. C. Extraversion----introversion and decrement in an auditory vigilance task. In D. N. Buckner and J. J. McGrath (Eds.) Vigilance: A symposium. New York: McGraw----Hili, 1963.

Cartwright, D. and Festinger, L. A. quantitative theory of decision. Psychological Review, 1943, 50, 595–621.

Colquhoun, W. P. The effect of “unwanted” signals on performance in a vigilance task. Ergonomics, 1961, 4, 41–51.

Colquhoun, W. P. and Baddeley, A. D. Role of pretest expectancy in vigilance decrement. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1964, 68, 156–160.

Colquhoun, W. P. and Baddeley, A. D. Influence of signal probability during pretraining on vigilance decrement. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1967, 73, 153–155.

Egan, J. P. Signal detection theory and ROC analysis. New York: Academic Press, 1975.

Freeman, P. R. Tables of d' and β. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1973.

Gescheider, G. A. , Wright, J. H. , Weber, D. B. , Kirchner, B. M. , and Milligan, E. A. Reaction time as a function of the intensity and probabili ty of occurrence of vibrotactile signals. Perception and Psychophysics, 1969, 5, 18–20.

10.

Green, D. M. and Swets, J. A. Signal detection theory and psychophysics. New York: Wiley, 1966.

11.

Jerison, H. J. , Pickett, R. M. , and Stenson, H. H. The elicited observing rate and decision processes in vigilance. Human Factors, 1965, 7, 107–128.

12.

Keister, M. E. and McLaughlin, R. I. Vigilance performance related to extraversion--introversion and caffeine. Journal of Experimental Research in Personality, 1972, 6, 5–11.

13.

McNicol, D. A primer of signal detection theory. London: Allen & Unwin, 1972.

14.

Pike, R. Response latency models for signal detection. Psychological Review, 1973, 80(1), 53–68.

15.

Swets, J. A. Signal detection theory applied to vigilance. In R. Mackie (Ed.) Vigilance: Theory, operational performance, and physiological correlates. New York: Plenum Press, 1977.

16.

Tanner, W. P. and Swets, J. A. A decision--making theory of visual detection. Psychological Review, 1954, 61, 401–409.

17.

Toates, F. M. Control theory in biology and experimental psychology. London: Hutchinson, 1975.

18.

Vickers, D. Decision processes in visual perception. New York: Academic Press, 1979.

19.

Vickers, D. Discrimination. In A. T. Welford (Ed.) Reaction times. New York: Academic Press, 1980.

20.

Vickers, D. , Leary, J. and Barnes, P. Adaptation to decreasing signal probability. In R. R. Mackie (Ed.) Vigilance: Theory, operational performance and physiological correlates. New York: Plenum, 1977.

21.

Vickers, D., Burt, J., Smith, P., and Brown, M. Experimental paradigms emphasising state or process limitations: I. Effects on speed--accuracy tradeoffs. Unpublished research report, University of Adelaide, 1983.

22.

Williges, R. C. Within--session criterion changes compared to an ideal observer criterion in a visual monitoring task. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1969, 81, 61–66.

23.

Williges, R. C. The role of payoffs and signal ratios in criterion changes during a monitoring task. Human Factors, 1971, 13, 261–267.

24.

Williges, R. C. Manipulating the response criterion in visual monitoring. Human Factors, 1973, 15, 179–185.