Airport security is very tight. If a traveler even jokes about a bomb, they are detained and questioned to ensure that no real terrorist threat succeeds. In terms of signal detection theory, airport security would rather have a _______ than a _______.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In signal detection theory, a "false alarm" occurs when a non-threat is incorrectly identified as a threat, while a "miss" happens when a real threat is not detected. Airport security prefers to err on the side of caution, treating potential threats (like jokes about bombs) seriously to avoid missing a real threat. Hence, they would rather have a false alarm than miss an actual threat.

Airport Security Is Very Tight