Signal Detection Theory

Signal detection theory originally grew out of the development of radar and communications technology. It was adapted by psychologists to explain certain aspects of sensation and perception processes that previous theories did not encompass. Signal detection theory models the decision-making process you would use when you want to decide between two different categories of stimuli. For example, you have to decide whether a person seen in a café (the stimulus) is a friend or a stranger (the categories).

Throughout this course, you will access a Cognitive Psychology Online Laboratory (CogLab) demonstration to explore some of the theories and processes of sensation and perception through a hands-on approach. This assignment is your first CogLab activity.

Click here to download the CogLab program.zip file to install this program. You may also download the CogLab Instructions file. After installing the program, launch it. Then, refer to the CogLab Student Manual.

Access the CogLab demonstration “Signal Detection” and follow the instructions to complete the demonstration.

Using the CogLab manual, the textbook and module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research signal detection theory.

Based on the CogLab demonstration and your research, address the following:

Define the following terms in relation to signal detection theory: hit, miss, false alarm, and correct rejection.
An individual’s hit rate is .79 and correct-rejection rate is .71. Find out his/her miss rate and false alarm rate.
Examine your individual sensitivity measures for each of the three conditions (144, 400, and 900 noise dots). Describe what these numbers indicate regarding your accuracy rates.
Signal detection theory assumes that a signal is always accompanied by a certain amount of noise. Identify the “noise” that was present when you completed the task. Explain how it affected your performance on the task. Identify at least two sources of noise for the detection of an audio signal.
Name at least three jobs that require the employee to accurately detect signals to effectively do the job. This means that signal detection methods could be used to evaluate performance.
Summarize at least two other research methods for measuring detection. Give your opinion on whether the signal detection theory is superior to these. Give reasons to support your answer.
Write a 2–3-page paper in Word format. Be sure to include a title page and a reference page. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M1_A3.doc. For example, if your name is John Smith, your document will be named SmithJ_M1_A3.doc.

By Wednesday, September 14, 2016, deliver your assignment to the M1: Assignment 3 Dropbox.

Cognitive Psychology Online Laboratory. CogLab 2.0 Online Laboratory. Wadsworth.

Assignment 3 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points

Accurately defined the terms related to signal detection theory.
4

Calculated the miss rate and the false rate based on the hit rate and correct-rejection rate.
12

Evaluated your individual sensitivity measures with regard to accuracy rates.
16

Identified the noise present while completing the task and explained how it affected the performance on the task.
16

Identified three jobs that require the employee to accurately detect signals to effectively do the job and where signal detection methods were used to evaluate performance.
16

Summarized two other research methods for measuring detection and examined if signal detection theory is superior to those methods.
16

Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
20

Total:
100

Signal Detection Theory, psychology assignment

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

Discussion Questions (DQ)

Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, include a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
One or two sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.
Weekly Participation

Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.
APA Format and Writing Quality

Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.
Use of Direct Quotes

I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’ level and deduct points accordingly.
As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.
LopesWrite Policy

For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.
Late Policy

The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.
Communication

Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me:
Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.