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Summary: Signal Detection Theory (SDT)
Herv´e Abdi1
Abstract
Signal Detection Theory (sdt) is used to analyze data coming from
experiments where the task is to categorize ambiguous stimuli which
can be generated either by a known process (called the signal) or
be obtained by chance (called the noise in the sdt framework). In
particular sdt is used to analyze experiments where a binary answer
(e.g., "Yes" vs "No") needs to be provided. For example, if we need
to decide if an education program is effective or not, we can use sdt.
Keywords: Signal Detection Theory, False Alarm, Hit, Miss, cor-
rect rejection, d , Criterion, Ideal Observer, ROC curve, Type I & II
errors.
1 Overview
Signal Detection Theory (often abridged as sdt) is used to analyze data
coming from experiments where the task is to categorize ambiguous stimuli
which can be generated either by a known process (called the signal) or be
obtained by chance (called the noise in the sdt framework). For example a
radar operator must decide if what she sees on the radar screen indicates the
presence of a plane (the signal) or the presence of parasites (the noise). This
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