Using magnitude estimation to investigate the perceptual components of signal detection theory

Several experiments suggest that the relation between detection, signal ene rgy, and perceived tone intensity is very different hom the relation betwee n detection, signal energy, and perceived tone duration. We propose a new t ask, the magnitude estimation and detection (MED) task, that allows one to assess the relation between the psychological dimensions of a stimulus and detection. In Experiment 1, we used the MED task to assess the relation bet ween perceived tone intensity and detection in a yes/no task. The data show a strong relation between the two. In Experiment 2, we used the MED task t o assess the relation between perceived tone duration and detection in a ye s/no task. The data show a relatively weak relation between the two. Our da ta suggest that tone intensity is a less perceptually noisy dimension than tone duration, We present the advantages and disadvantages of the MED task with the hope that this task can aid researchers in better understanding th e perceptual and decisional mechanisms underlying various cognitive process es.