title: Utility of a dynamic termination criterion in the ZEST adaptive threshold method.
abstract: Bayesian adaptive threshold procedures may be run for a fixed number of trials, or may be stopped when the calculated confidence interval for the threshold reaches a selected limit (a dynamic termination criterion). This study used Monte-Carlo simulations to determine whether the confidence interval is a useful predictor of errors in the estimated threshold. No difference was found between the distribution of errors in a fixed trial procedure versus a dynamically terminated procedure of the same average number of trials. In addition, the width of the confidence interval failed to usefully predict observer variability arising from a shallow psychometric function slope or increased false positive response probabilities. This study suggests that dynamic termination criteria are of little use in Bayesian adaptive threshold procedures.
authors.affiliation: Discoveries in Sight, Devers Eye Institute, 1225 NE Second Avenue, Portland, OR 97232, USA. ajanderson@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011594:Psychometrics; D011601:Psychophysics; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*