Accuracy and function-shape information trade off against speed in threshold measurement

Evidence

In principle, the method of constant stimuli is the best method to measure the value of a threshold, as it avoids many subject-related sources of error. Additionally, the shape of a psychophysical function is also revealed with the method, whereas other methods reveal only the value of a certain threshold. Unfortunately, it is a relatively slow method to conduct. The number of presented stimuli required to obtain reliable data is, in many cases, relatively high, and often some adaptive methods are used instead. — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 915

Categorization

Category: Causal Relationships

• XREF: The accuracy-vs-speed tradeoff mirrors adaptive testing methodology common in hearing-aid fitting and audiology practice.

Related

• Constant stimuli remains gold standard but is too slow for routine use (similarity 0.89)
• Thresholds are measured by presenting many stimulus levels and fitting a psychometric function (similarity 0.89)
• Constant-stims method maps full psychophysical functions rather than single thresholds (similarity 0.85)
• Adaptive threshold methods trade fast converging results against convergence risk (similarity 0.83)
• Method-of-limits thresholds are distorted by subjects’ response tendencies (similarity 0.82)
• The method of adjustment is flexible but yields listener-dependent thresholds (similarity 0.82)
• Adaptive staircase procedures trade efficiency and bias avoidance against convergence risk (similarity 0.82)
• Threshold estimates reflect both ear sensitivity and listener response bias (similarity 0.82)
• Thresholds can be measured by tracing stimulus change until perception flips (similarity 0.81)
• Objective hearing measures require linking perception, physiology, and speech ability. (similarity 0.81)
• Self-adjustment threshold methods are fast but lack a standardized response criterion across listeners. (similarity 0.81)
• Constant-stimuli threshold measurement is time consuming because many trials are needed per level. (similarity 0.81)
• Perceptual thresholds blur because listener internal noise varies by personality (similarity 0.80)
• Chance-level guessing forces threshold criteria above 50% to reduce false positives (similarity 0.80)
• Adaptive procedures converge on thresholds without explicit psychometric functions (similarity 0.80)