Using magnitude estimation to investigate the perceptual components of signal detection theory

Abstract

Several experiments suggest that the relation between detection, signal energy, and perceived tone intensity is very different from the relation between detection, signal energy, and perceived tone duration. We propose a new task, the magnitude estimation and detection (MED) task, that allows one to assess the relation between the psychological dimensions of a stimulus and detection. In Experiment 1, we used the MED task to assess the relation between perceived tone intensity and detection in a yes/no task. The data show a strong relation between the two. In Experiment 2, we used the MED task to assess the relation between perceived tone duration and detection in a yes/no task. The data show a relatively weak relation between the two. Our data suggest that tone intensity is a less perceptually noisy dimension than tone duration. We present the advantages and disadvantages of the MED task with the hope that this task can aid researchers in better understanding the perceptual and decisional mechanisms underlying various cognitive processes.