PROBABILITY MATCHING IN SIGNAL DETECTION

There is evidence that in a signal-detection task, Ss often report a stimulus event at about the probability of its occurrence. By contrast, it has often been assumed in signal detection theory that Ss attempt to maximize expected value. Green (1960) and Green & Swets (1966) have presented a rather detailed analysis of the data of one particular O, whom they have characterized as typical. They concluded that Os tend to avoid extreme criteria, and may be described as conservative. A reanalysis of their results shows that the S was matching his probability of a “yes” response to the probability of the signal. © 1969, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All rights reserved.