Question 1

Confidence levels is a:

Accepted Answer

A)   useful method in shifting the criterion to an optimal level.
B)   way to demonstrate risky beta setting
C)   method for determining which observers are more confident in their judgments
D)   better way to measure sensitivity A

Question 2

Sensitivity in a vigilance task can be improved by:

Accepted Answer

A)   requiring the inspector to remember the target stimulus
B)   decreasing target salience
C)   increasing the event rate
D)   decreasing the event rate D

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT an effective method for shifting the response criterion downward towards an optimal level:

Accepted Answer

A)   introducing false signals
B)   providing feedback to the inspector (knowledge of results) 
C)   training the observer to produce automating processing of the target
D)   instructions about the costs of misses C

Question 4

What is information, and how is it relevant to display design?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is information, and how is it...

Question 5

In his classic 1956 paper, George Miller discussed various experiments that used the absolute judgment paradigm. He concluded that there appears to be a limit to classification in this task. Explain how he arrived at this conclusion.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In his classic 1956 paper, George Miller...

Question 6

In SDT we represent signal and noise as a pair of distributions. Which of the following is a true statement concerning these distributions:

Accepted Answer

A)   there is always some overlap between the distributions and the distributions are normal
B)   there is no overlap between the distributions and the distributions are normal
C)   there is always some overlap between the distributions are the distributions are not normal
D)   there is  overlap between the distributions and the distributions are normal

Question 7

Describe how signal detection theory works and how it is relevant to many real-world tasks.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how signal detection theory works and...

Question 8

How many points on the ROC can be generated from a 2 x 2 response matrix?

Accepted Answer

A)   one
B)   two
C)   four
D)   eight

Question 9

What is the limit of human performance in an absolute judgment task, in terms of information transmitted (HT)

Accepted Answer

A)   2-3 bits
B)   2-3 stimulus levels
C)   7 plus or minus 2 bits
D)   there is no limit

Question 10

Which of the following is not one of the classes of joint events in signal detection theory (SDT)?

Accepted Answer

A)   hit
B)   false alarm
C)   false miss
D)   correct rejection

Question 11

Which of the following statements about sluggish beta is false?

Accepted Answer

A)   sluggish beta is more evident for probabilities than payoffs
B)   sluggish beta is not related to an observer's sensitivity
C)   sluggish beta is a laboratory phenomenon and does not occur in the real world
D)   sluggish beta means that people cannot adjust their criterion in an optimal manner

Question 12

Which of the following is not a solution to the mistrust caused by alarm false alarms?

Accepted Answer

A)   use multiple alarm levels
B)   keep the human in the loop
C)   improve operator understanding of alarm false alarm rates
D)   lower automated beta slightly

Question 13

Describe some techniques to combat the loss of vigilance (again consider both sensitivity and bias in your answer).

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe some techniques to combat the loss...

Question 14

Which of the following theories accounts for the sensitivity decrement over the course of a vigil?

Accepted Answer

A)   arousal theory
B)   expectancy theory
C)   sustained demand theory
D)   arousal theory and expectancy theory

Question 15

In SDT we represent signal and noise as a pair of distributions. Which of the following describes conservative responding?

Accepted Answer

A)   XC is placed to the left of where the distributions meet
B)   the observer says "no" (signal absent)  much more often than she says "yes" (signal present) 
C)   the observer says "yes" (signal present)  much more often than he says "no" (signal absent) 
D)   XC is placed where the distributions meet

Question 16

The vigilance decrement is a result of:

Accepted Answer

A)   a decrease in sensitivity
B)   a decrease in the response criterion (more liberal) 
C)   an increase in the response criterion (more conservative) 
D)   both a decrease in sensitivity and an increase in the response criterion (more conservative)

Question 17

Summarize the implications of multidimensional absolute judgement for sorting/classification tasks. Be sure to discuss configural dimensions and emergent features in your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize the implications of multidimensional absolute judgement...

Question 18

Which of the following does NOT occur in an absolute judgment task?

Accepted Answer

A)   multiple stimuli are presented
B)   the subject gives its stimuli its name
C)   the stimuli lie along some continuum (e.g., different brightnesses) 
D)   the stimuli are presented in systematic order (e.g., from dimmest to brightest)

Question 19

Which of the following pairs of dimensions are most likely to be orthogonal?

Accepted Answer

A)   weight and hair color
B)   weight and height
C)   weight and gender
D)   height and gender

Question 20

What does A' represent?

Accepted Answer

A)   a non-parametric measure of response bias
B)   a parametric measure of sensitivity
C)   bias divided by sensitivity
D)   a non-parametric measure of sensitivity

Exam 2: Signal Detection and Absolute Judgement