A signal detection method for evaluating different display codes and formats is described. The method allows one to determine how an observer aggregates information from multiple element displays. The method can be used to assess the relative importance of specific spatial or sequential elements of the display. The efficacy of different formats and arrangements thus can be compared. The paper describes the theoretical basis for the method and briefly summarizes data from several types of visual and auditory displays.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BergB. G.RobinsonD. E. (1987). Multiple observations and internal noise. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 81, S33.
2.
GreenD. M.SwetsJ. A. (1974). Signal Detection Theory and Psychophysics, Huntington, NY: Krieger.
3.
NolteL. W. (1967). Theory of signal detectability: Adaptive optimum receiver design. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 42, 773–777.
4.
NolteL. W.JaarsmaD. (1967). More on the detection of one of M orthogonal signals. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 41, 497–505.
5.
RobinsonD. E.BergB. G. (1986). A partitioned variance model for multiple observations. Paper presented at the Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the Society for Mathematical Psychology, Cambridge, MA.
6.
SorkinR. D.RobinsonD. E. (1984). Alerted Monitors: Human Operators Aided by Automated Detectors, (National Technical Information Service Report No. DOT/OST/P-34/85/021). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.
7.
SorkinR. D.WeldonM. (1987). A Detection theory method for evaluating visual displays. Human Factors. Manuscript submitted for publication.
8.
SwetsJ. A. (1984). Mathematical models of attention. In ParasuramanR.DaviesD. R. (Eds.) Varieties of Attention. (pp. 183–242). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
9.
SwetsJ. A.BirdsallT. G. (1978). Repeated observations of an uncertain signal. Perception & Psychophysics, 23, 269–274.
10.
SwetsJ. A.GreenD. M.GettyD.J.SwetsJ. B. (1978). Signal detection and identification at successive stages of observation. Perception & Psychophysics, 23, 275–289.
11.
SwetsJ. A.ShipleyE. F.McKeyM. J.GreenD. M. (1961). Multiple observations of signals in noise. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 31, 514–521.
