Signal-detection theory assumes that:
A) the person's sensory receptors are not fatigued.
B) there is a single threshold for each sense.
C) a person's response depends on the stimulus and on a decision about it.
D) a person's ability to detect a stimulus depends only on the stimulus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Signal-detection theory posits that a person's response to a stimulus depends not only on the stimulus itself but also on a decision-making process. This decision-making process takes into account various factors, including the person's sensitivity to the stimulus, their bias or tendency to respond in a certain way, and the costs and benefits associated with different possible responses. Therefore, choice C, which states that "a person's response depends on the stimulus and on a decision about it," is the correct answer. Answers A, B, and D are incorrect because they oversimplify the complex factors that influence a person's ability to detect a stimulus.

Signal-Detection Theory Assumes That