Bias and sensitivity in two-interval forced choice procedures: Tests of the difference model.

Full Abstract

We assess four common claims concerning the two-interval forced choice (2-IFC) procedure and the standard Difference Model of 2-IFC performance. The first two are (1) that it is unbiased and (2) that the structure of the 2-IFC task does not in itself alter sensitivity. The remaining two concern a claimed 2 enhancement in sensitivity in 2-IFC relative to that measured in a Yes-No task. We review relevant past research and re-analyze seventeen experiments from previous studies across three laboratories. We then report an experiment comparing 2-IFC performance with performance in a second task designed to elucidate observers' decision processes. This second task is simply two successive Yes-No signal detection tasks with the same timing as in the 2-IFC experiment. We find little evidence supporting the claims that 2-IFC is unbiased and that it does not alter sensitivity and we also reject the two claims associated with the Difference Model as a model of performance in our own experiment.

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Author information

Author/s: Yeshurun, Yaffa (Y); Carrasco, Marisa (M); Maloney, Laurence T (LT);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, 31905 Haifa, Israel. yeshurun(-atsign-)research.haifa.ac.il

Grants: EY016200 (Agency:United States NEI) ; EY08266 (Agency:United States NEI)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Vision research (Vision Res), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Aug; vol 48 (issue 17) : pp 1837-51

Dates: Created 2008/07/22; Completed 2008/09/24;

PMID: 18585750, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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