Abstract
This paper describes a procedure for obtaining conditional accuracy functions(CAFs) from naive observers and a restricted number of trials. The method permits the experimenter to counter the subjects’ tendency to favor accuracy in tasks in which stimulus discrimination is easy. Each time a block of 12 trials contains less than three errors, observers are instructed, by means of a speed-up signal, to respond faster. The subject is continuously informed about her/his effective reaction time. The data show that the desired speed-accuracy tradeoff was obtained within each of the 7 observers. The mean percent error was around 25%.
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Acknowledgements are due to Ketty Vergé-Dépré for running the experiment and to Noelle Bonora for programming assistance. We owe special thanks to Jeff Miller for having encouraged us to write this paper and for his most helpful comments on an earlier draft. The conclusion is essentially based on Miller’s suggestions. The referees’ helpful comments on the submitted manuscript were greatly appreciated.
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Bonnet, C., Dresp, B. A fast procedure for studying conditional accuracy functions. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers 25, 2–8 (1993). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03204443
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03204443