From basic to applied research: theory and application of the a–b signal detection theory model

摘要

The goal of this research was three-fold: (1) address the basic versus appliedrnresearch debate within the domain-specific signal detection theoretical framework,rnwhich scientists and practitioners have used extensively along the fullrnspectrum of this continuum; (2) provide empirical support to validate thernadequacy of the model; and (3) show the potential generalisability of the model torndifferent domain-specific areas within applied settings. The results from the basicrnempirical study suggest that the a–b signal detection theory (SDT) model providesrna more accurate theoretical framework for examining the underlying processesrninvolved in signal detection. The findings from the domain-specific studiesrnshowed the potential applicability of the a–b SDT model for approaching appliedrnproblems. From a theoretical and applied point of view, this research suggestsrnthat the traditional SDT contention that the detection and response processes arernindependent from each other does not hold true for either basic signal detectionrntasks or domain-specific areas.