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The responses that you give on the hearing test can be analyzed using signal detection
analysis. Signal detection analysis is a technique used to determine the ability of the perceiver to
separate true signals from background noise (Macmillan & Creelman, 2005; Wickens,
2002). [3] As you can see in Figure 4.4 "Outcomes of a Signal Detection Analysis", each
judgment trial creates four possible outcomes: A hit occurs when you, as the listener, correctly
say “yes” when there was a sound. A false alarm occurs when you respond “yes” to no signal. In
the other two cases you respond “no”—either amiss (saying “no” when there was a signal) or
a correct rejection (saying “no” when there was in fact no signal).
Figure 4.4 Outcomes of a Signal Detection Analysis
Our ability to accurately detect stimuli is measured using a signal detection analysis. Two of the possible decisions
(hits and correct rejections) are accurate; the other two (misses and false alarms) are errors.