Understanding Signal Detection Theory: Hits, False Alarms, and Correct Negatives

HitsFalse alarmscorrect negatives

Answers for catch/noise trialsThere was a signalThere was no signal but you thought there wasThere was no signal and you knew that

Hits, false alarms, and correct negatives are terms used in the field of signal detection theory, which is concerned with the ability to differentiate between signal and noise. These terms represent different types of outcomes that can be obtained from a signal detection task.

Hits: A hit refers to the correct detection of a signal when it is present. This means that the participant correctly responds to a stimulus that is actually a signal. In other words, a hit is the detection of a signal when it is there.

False Alarms: False alarms refer to the incorrect detection of a signal when it is not there. This means that the participant responds to a stimulus that is actually noise and not a signal. In other words, a false alarm is a response to a stimulus that is not actually present.

Correct Negatives: Correct negatives refer to the correct rejection of a stimulus when it is not a signal. This means that the participant correctly responds to a stimulus that is actually noise and not a signal. In other words, a correct negative is a lack of response to a stimulus that is not actually present.

In summary, hits, false alarms, and correct negatives are different outcomes that can result from a signal detection task. They are important because they allow researchers to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of a participant’s response to a particular signal. By measuring these outcomes, researchers can determine how well participants are able to differentiate between signal and noise, and can use this information to inform the design and interpretation of experiments.

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