title: Developing Bayesian adaptive methods for estimating sensitivity thresholds (d') in Yes-No and forced-choice tasks.
abstract: Motivated by Signal Detection Theory (SDT), we developed a family of novel adaptive methods that estimate the sensitivity threshold-the signal intensity corresponding to a pre-defined sensitivity level (d' = 1)-in Yes-No (YN) and Forced-Choice (FC) detection tasks. Rather than focus stimulus sampling to estimate a single level of %Yes or %Correct, the current methods sample psychometric functions more broadly, to concurrently estimate sensitivity and decision factors, and thereby estimate thresholds that are independent of decision confounds. Developed for four tasks-(1) simple YN detection, (2) cued YN detection, which cues the observer's response state before each trial, (3) rated YN detection, which incorporates a Not Sure response, and (4) FC detection-the qYN and qFC methods yield sensitivity thresholds that are independent of the task's decision structure (YN or FC) and/or the observer's subjective response state. Results from simulation and psychophysics suggest that 25 trials (and sometimes less) are sufficient to estimate YN thresholds with reasonable precision (s.d. = 0.10-0.15 decimal log units), but more trials are needed for FC thresholds. When the same subjects were tested across tasks of simple, cued, rated, and FC detection, adaptive threshold estimates exhibited excellent agreement with the method of constant stimuli (MCS), and with each other. These YN adaptive methods deliver criterion-free thresholds that have previously been exclusive to FC methods.
authors: Adaptive Sensory Technology, LLC Boston, MA, USA ; Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Boston, MA, USA ; Vision Center Laboratory, Department of Biology, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, University of California, San Diego San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Lesmes
authors: Laboratory of Brain Processes, Ohio State University Columbus, OH, USA.
authors: Zhong-Lin
authors: ZL
authors: Lu
authors: Laboratory of Brain Processes, Ohio State University Columbus, OH, USA.
authors: Jongsoo
authors: J
authors: Baek
authors: Laboratory of Brain Processes, Ohio State University Columbus, OH, USA.
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Tran
authors: Memory, Attention, and Perception Laboratory, University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA, USA.
authors: Barbara A
authors: BA
authors: Dosher
authors: Vision Center Laboratory, Department of Biology, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, University of California, San Diego San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Thomas D
authors: TD
authors: Albright
keywords: Yes-No; adaptive psychophysics; cuing; decision criterion; forced-choice; rating; signal detection; stimulus placement