Adaptive procedures converge on thresholds without explicit psychometric functions

Evidence

All adaptive procedures are based on knowing the psychometric function, which characterizes the perception as a function of changing the strength of the signal being presented. Knowledge of the psychometric function is critical to establish the variables necessary for using adaptive procedures. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 351

Adaptive procedures allow an experimenter or clinician to home in on the threshold level rather quickly. An adaptive procedure samples multiple points on the psychometric function, in an attempt to find a single point, such as the threshold. As long as the psychometric function governing the specific auditory behavior follows an increasing pattern like that shown in Figure 2–12, adaptive procedures can be used to estimate the threshold. In these cases, the percent detection associated with the threshold is commonly defined by the adaptive procedure used. Note also that the parameters of the adaptive procedures used must be carefully considered in the context of the psychometric function. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 297

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the psychometric function and states why adaptive procedures require it.
• corroborated: 5 independent passages support this claim — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 351; Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 297
• XREF: connects to: One-up two-down adaptive procedures track the 70.7% point on the psychometric function; Adaptive staircase procedures converge to thresholds by adjusting signal level per answer; Psychometric functions map continuous stimulus scales onto probabilistic detection judgements — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 284 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• One-up two-down adaptive procedures track the 70.7% point on the psychometric function #exemplifies (0.92)
• The 3-down one-up adaptive rule tracks 79.4 percent correct thresholds #exemplifies (0.92)
• Adaptive staircase procedures converge to thresholds by adjusting signal level per answer #expands (0.90)
• Psychometric functions map continuous stimulus scales onto probabilistic detection judgements #corroborates (0.82) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 284