DECISION INTERVAL AND SIGNAL DETECTABILITY IN A VIGILANCE TASK
Abstract
The paper discusses the effect of the assumed decision interval on the measurement of d'. Previous experiments have revealed a decrement in the detectability (d') of signals during a particular vigilance task involving the detection of a brief pause in the movement of a clock hand. In order to measure the false alarm probability, Ss were required to make a decision once every five sec. as to whether or not there had been a signal in the previous five sec. In this paper Ss were required to respond as soon as they saw a signal, and it was assumed that the decision interval was the signal duration. The thirty-fold change in assumed decision interval produced very little change in the decrement in d' during the run. It is therefore concluded that the length of the assumed decision interval was not a critical factor in determining changes in d' during the continuous clock task.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 18, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0621184
Entities
People
- Jane F. Mackworth