Detecting a faint signal
Understand detection as a pattern across repeated trials.
The picture in words
- Signal
- Present a defined stimulus.
- Repeated trials
- Record whether it was detected.
- Threshold
- Identify the intensity associated with 50% detection.
Reading the illustration
An absolute threshold is commonly defined as the intensity detected on half the trials under specified conditions. The trials are illustrative.
Try a question
Why use repeated trials to estimate a threshold?
Show the explanation
Detection varies from one presentation to another. Repeated observations help estimate the relation between intensity and detection.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/5-1-sensation-versus-perceptionSelected rendered passages on absolute and difference thresholds, reviewed in the topic-selection research.