RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THURSTONE CATEGORY SCALING AND SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY

Discusses relationships between Thurstone category scaling and signal detection theory. It is shown that the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve has existed within Thurstone category scaling since its inception, although the curve has not been recognized as such. This recognition allows the method of successive intervals to be employed to derive ROC curves. The method is similar to the rating procedure but not identical. It is clear that the Thurstone method will not yield the d' invariance prized by detection theorists. It is shown that the problem of category boundary variance is similar for detection theory and Thurstone theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.