scholarly journals The Do’s and Don’ts of Psychophysical Methods for Interpretability of Psychometric Functions and Their Descriptors

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Ángel García-Pérez ◽  
Rocío Alcalá-Quintana
Keyword(s):  
Process Model ◽  
Signal Detection Theory ◽  
Formal Analysis ◽  
Detection Threshold ◽  
Difference Limen ◽  
Data Display ◽  
Alternative Framework ◽  
Threshold Difference ◽  
Response Formats ◽  
Presentation Methods

Abstract Many areas of research require measuring psychometric functions or their descriptors (thresholds, slopes, etc.). Data for this purpose are collected with psychophysical methods of various types and justification for the interpretation of results arises from a model of performance grounded in signal detection theory. Decades of research have shown that psychophysical data display features that are incompatible with such framework, questioning the validity of interpretations obtained under it and revealing that psychophysical performance is more complex than this framework entertains. This paper describes the assumptions and formulation of the conventional framework for the two major classes of psychophysical methods (single- and dual-presentation methods) and presents various lines of empirical evidence that the framework is inconsistent with. An alternative framework is then described and shown to account for all the characteristics that the conventional framework regards as anomalies. This alternative process model explicitly separates the sensory, decisional, and response components of performance and represents them via parameters whose estimation characterizes the corresponding processes. Retrospective and prospective evidence of the validity of the alternative framework is also presented. A formal analysis also reveals that some psychophysical methods and response formats are unsuitable for separation of the three components of observed performance. Recommendations are thus given regarding practices that should be avoided and those that should be followed to ensure interpretability of the psychometric function, or descriptors (detection threshold, difference limen, point of subjective equality, etc.) obtained with shortcut methods that do not require estimation of psychometric functions.

Toward the Formalization of Business Process Model and Notation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Honoré Hounwanou ◽  
Laila Boumlik ◽  
Mohamed Mejri
Keyword(s):  
Web Services ◽  
Programming Languages ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Formal Analysis ◽  
Business Process Model ◽  
Business Process Execution ◽  
Developer Tools ◽  
Almost All

Due to its versatility and wide variety of constructs, BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) is today the leading standard notation for creating visual models of business or organizational processes. It is a rich and expressive graphical language specially designed to provide a notation that is easily understood by all members of a company. Sometimes, however, this large number of controls and action nodes available can become a weakness since a given semantics can be represented in many ways, causing some ambiguity and raising the question of bisimilarity between two models. Today, it is universally recognized that formal methods are useful for the specification, design and verification of almost all systems, and essential for the most critical ones. On the other hand, the Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (BPEL) is an executable language structured in blocks, supported by many execution platforms, making it possible to specify the actions in the business processes with Web services. Since BPMN and BPEL share almost the same level of abstraction, we present in this article a formalization of the BPMN language through a mapping to BPEL, aiming to remove its ambiguities, to solve the complex modeling and interaction problems and open the door to many formal analysis such as model checking. We first formalize the BPEL language using the K framework, we then map the BPMN language to this formalized version of BPEL. The K Framework is a rewriting/reachability based framework enabling language developers to formally define all programming languages. Once a language is formally specified in the K framework, the framework automatically outputs a range of formal verification tool sets, compilers, debuggers and other developer tools for it.

Capacities of humans and monkeys to discriminate vibratory stimuli of different frequency and amplitude: a correlation between neural events and psychological measurements

1975 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. LaMotte ◽  
V. B. Mountcastle
Keyword(s):  
Detection Threshold ◽  
Absolute Threshold ◽  
Frequency Discrimination ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Difference Limen ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Neural Population ◽  
Active Population ◽  
Subjective Intensity ◽  
The Difference

The capacities of monkeys and humans to discriminate between mechanical sinusoids differing in amplitude or frequency were measured in a two-alternative, forced-choice task. The difference limen for amplitude discrimination for both species remained constant near 10% of the standard amplitude over the range of 17-30 dB, relative to detection threshold. Equal subjective intensity curves in the 20-40 Hz range were determined at 20 and 29 dB, relative to detection threshold. These curves followed the threshold curve and were identical for the two species. The difference limen for frequency discrimination averaged 1.8 Hz for humans and 2.7 Hz for monkeys; the range of values for the two species overlapped nearly completely. The small sizes of these difference limens indicate, we believe, the capacity of highly trained individuals of either species to ascertain small differences in the temporal order of somesthetic stimuli and of the neural events evoked by them. In one series of experiments we demonstrated that subjects of both species possess two threshold for two different aspects of flutter-vibration which are displaced from each other along the intensive continuum. For either species, the minimum level of stimulus amplitude required for threshold frequency discrimination is about 8 dB above that sufficient for detection. This difference in amplitude is called the atonal interval and matches that observed between absolute and tuning thresholds for quickly adapting, mechanoreceptor afferents (the Meissner afferents) which innervate the glabrous skin of the monkey hand. These and previous findings have permitted a number of direct correlations between behavioral and neural events as regards the sense of flutter. The neural codes for the intensity and frequency of flutter appear to be different. The capacity to detect the presence of a mechanical sinusoid and the capacity to judge its subjective intensity are likely to depend on criterion levels of activity in the total population of Meissner afferents, the former on the appearance of any activity (absolute threshold) in a small population of the most sensitive of these fibers and the latter on the overall size of the active population of neuronal elements at each level of amplitude. The total activity in the relevant neural population elicited by sinusoids of increasing amplitude defines a prothetic continuum along which subjects can judge the magnitude of sensation..

scholarly journals The Differences Between Certified And Non-Certified English Teachers In The Teaching And Learning Process

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tekky Geriasti Pega’ Bella ◽  
Roslina Roslina ◽  
Fernandes Arung
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Data Reduction ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
English Teacher ◽  
Data Display ◽  
Presentation Methods

This research was conducted to analyze the differences between certified and non-certified English teachers in the teaching and learning process. The researcher formulated the objective of the research was to find out the differences between certified and non-certified English teachers in the teaching and learning process. Based on the objective of the research above, so the researcher came to analize the differences between certified and non-certified English teachers, they were one of certified English teacher in SMP Neg. 1 Kolaka and one of non-certified English teacher in SMK Negeri 1 Kolaka. The design of the research, the researcher used a descriptive qualitative analysis. In conducting the research, the researcher used two kinds of data collection, they were interview and observation. In analysis of the data, the researcher used techniques of data analysis by Miles and Huberman, namely data reduction, data display and verifying and conclusion. In representing the analysis, the researcher mentioned the findings of certified and non-certified English teachers in the teaching and learning process. Furthermore, through out, the analysis, the researcher explained that certified and non-certified English teachers had some differences in the teaching and learning process. They showed differences in some indicators, they were material mastery, systematic presentation, methods application, using media, performance and motivation. Based on the finding and analysis, the researcher made conclusion that certified English teacher didn’t have all indicators in his teaching and learning process. Conversely, non-certified English teacher had all indicators in his teaching and learning process. In other words, non-certified English teacher had good quality than certified English teacher.

scholarly journals Skin Conductance Responses to Masked Emotional Faces Are Modulated by Hit Rate but Not Signal Detection Theory Adjustments for Subjective Differences in the Detection Threshold

Perception ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 432-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myron Tsikandilakis ◽  
Peter Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Signal Detection ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Signal Detection Theory ◽  
Detection Threshold ◽  
Detection Theory ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Emotional Faces ◽  
Skin Conductance Responses

The biological preparedness model suggests that survival-related visual cues elicit physiological changes without awareness to enable us to respond to our environment. Previous studies have reported some evidence for this effect. In the current article, we argue that this evidence is subject to methodological confounds. These include the use of a universal masked presentation threshold, the employment of hit rates (HRs) to measure meta-awareness, and the assertion of overall guess-level target detection using nonsignificance. In the current report, we address these issues and test whether masked emotional faces can elicit changes in physiology. We present participants with subjectively adjusted masked angry, fearful, happy, and neutral faces using HRs and signal detection theory. We assess detection performance using a strict Bayesian criterion for meta-awareness. Our findings reveal that HR adjustments in the detection threshold allow higher skin conductance responses to happy, fearful, and angry faces, but that this effect could not be reported by the same participants when the adjustments were made using signal detection measures. Combined these findings suggest that very brief biologically relevant stimuli can elicit physiological changes but cast doubt to the extent that this effect can occur in response to truly unconscious emotional faces.

Process \'prǎ|,ses\n: The Action of Moving Forward Progressively from One Point to Another on the Way to Completion

1979 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A. Pruning
Keyword(s):  
Process Model ◽  
Communicative Behaviors ◽  
Adult Level ◽  
Remedial Programs ◽  
Stage Process ◽  
The Way

A rationale for the application of a stage process model for the language-disordered child is presented. The major behaviors of the communicative system (pragmatic-semantic-syntactic-phonological) are summarized and organized in stages from pre-linguistic to the adult level. The article provides clinicians with guidelines, based on complexity, for the content and sequencing of communicative behaviors to be used in planning remedial programs.

The Vocabulary and Overclaiming Test (VOC-T)

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Ziegler ◽  
Christoph Kemper ◽  
Beatrice Rammstedt
Keyword(s):  
Construct Validity ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Signal Detection Theory ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Online Study ◽  
Accuracy Index ◽  
Bias Index ◽  
Reliability Estimates ◽  
Verbal Knowledge

The present research aimed at constructing a questionnaire measuring overclaiming tendencies (VOC-T-bias) as an indicator of self-enhancement. An approach was used which also allows estimation of a score for vocabulary knowledge, the accuracy index (VOC-T-accuracy), using signal detection theory. For construction purposes, an online study was conducted with N = 1,176 participants. The resulting questionnaire, named Vocabulary and Overclaiming – Test (VOC-T) was investigated with regard to its psychometric properties in two further studies. Study 2 used data from a population representative sample (N = 527), and Study 3 was another online survey (N = 933). Results show that reliability estimates were satisfactory for the VOC-T-bias index and the VOC-T-accuracy index. Overclaiming did not correlate with knowledge, but it was sensitive to self-enhancement supporting the construct validity of the test scores. The VOC-T-accuracy index in turn covaried with general knowledge and even more so with verbal knowledge, which also supports construct validity. Moreover, the VOC-T-accuracy index had a meaningful correlation with age in both validation studies. All in all, the psychometric properties can be regarded as sufficient to recommend the VOC-T for research purposes.

So, Whatever Happened to Signal Detection Theory?

1995 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 972-972
Author(s):  
Jerome R. Busemeyer
Keyword(s):  
Signal Detection ◽  
Signal Detection Theory ◽  
Detection Theory
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document