SHS 311 Exam 3 Hearing Science
Practice Questions & Answers
Psychophysics, Signal Detection &
Hearing Thresholds 2026/2027 |
SHS 311 Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice | Comprehensive
Examination
SHS 311 Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice Questions &
Answers Psychophysics, Signal Detection & Hearing
Thresholds 2026/2027 actual exam preparation document with
INTRODUCTION
This document is an important and very helpful preparation
resource for SHS 311 Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice
Questions & Answers Psychophysics, Signal Detection &
Hearing Thresholds 2026/2027. Every item uses a focused exam
stem, four response options, a keyed response, and a clear
rationale, making it easier to understand the subject, spot
distractors, and build real exam confidence.
Page 1
, Question 1
In a yes/no detection task, the hit rate is 0.90 and the false-alarm rate is 0.30. If
the observer becomes more liberal (criterion shifts left) while sensitivity
remains constant, which pair of hit and false-alarm rates is most consistent with
this shift?
A. Hit = 0.95, FA = 0.50
B. Hit = 0.80, FA = 0.10
C. Hit = 0.95, FA = 0.10
D. Hit = 0.70, FA = 0.30
Correct Answer: A - Hit = 0.95, FA = 0.50
RATIONALE
A leftward criterion shift increases both hit and false-alarm rates while
d' remains constant. Option A shows both rates increasing, preserving
d'. Option B shows a rightward shift (more conservative). Option C
changes d'. Option D lowers hit rate without changing FA, inconsistent
with a pure criterion shift.
Question 2
A 2-interval forced-choice (2IFC) procedure typically yields lower thresholds
than a yes/no procedure primarily because:
A. It eliminates the influence of the observer's criterion.
B. It increases the observer's sensitivity (d').
C. It reduces internal noise.
D. It allows the observer to use a higher decision criterion.
Correct Answer: A - It eliminates the influence of the observer's
criterion.
Page 2
, RATIONALE
In 2IFC, the observer compares two intervals, effectively removing the
need to set an absolute criterion; this reduces bias and yields lower
thresholds. Sensitivity (d') is not inherently increased; internal noise is
unchanged; and a higher criterion would not lower thresholds.
Question 3
Which adaptive psychophysical procedure is designed to estimate the 70.7%
correct point on the psychometric function?
A. Method of constant stimuli
B. Transformed up-down (e.g., 2-down 1-up)
C. Method of adjustment
D. Block up-down
Correct Answer: B - Transformed up-down (e.g., 2-down 1-up)
RATIONALE
A 2-down 1-up staircase converges on the 70.7% correct point. The
method of constant stimuli is not adaptive; method of adjustment is
not adaptive in the same way; block up-down targets different
percentages.
Question 4
In a masking experiment, a 1-kHz signal is masked by a narrowband noise
centered at 1 kHz. If the bandwidth of the noise is increased beyond the critical
band, threshold for the signal:
A. Continues to increase linearly with bandwidth.
B. Remains constant regardless of bandwidth.
C. Decreases because more noise is present.
D. Increases only if the noise is modulated.
Correct Answer: B - Remains constant regardless of bandwidth.
Page 3
, RATIONALE
Once the noise bandwidth exceeds the critical band, only the noise
within the critical band around the signal contributes to masking;
further increases in bandwidth do not raise threshold. Thus threshold
remains constant. Options A, C, and D misstate the critical band
concept.
Question 5
A listener's threshold for a 10-ms tone burst is 30 dB SPL. According to
temporal integration, what would be the approximate threshold for a 200-ms
tone burst?
A. 10 dB SPL
B. 20 dB SPL
C. 30 dB SPL
D. 40 dB SPL
Correct Answer: B - 20 dB SPL
RATIONALE
Temporal integration predicts a 3 dB decrease in threshold per
doubling of duration up to ~200-300 ms. From 10 ms to 200 ms is
about 4.3 doublings, yielding ~13 dB improvement; 30 dB 10 dB 20
dB SPL. Other options do not reflect this rule.
Question 6
Which statement best describes the relationship between frequency selectivity
and the upward spread of masking?
A. Upward spread of masking is greater for listeners with sharper tuning.
B. Upward spread of masking is reduced when the masker is below the
signal frequency.
C. Upward spread of masking reflects the asymmetric shape of the
auditory filter.
D. Upward spread of masking is independent of cochlear nonlinearity.
Page 4
Practice Questions & Answers
Psychophysics, Signal Detection &
Hearing Thresholds 2026/2027 |
SHS 311 Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice | Comprehensive
Examination
SHS 311 Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice Questions &
Answers Psychophysics, Signal Detection & Hearing
Thresholds 2026/2027 actual exam preparation document with
INTRODUCTION
This document is an important and very helpful preparation
resource for SHS 311 Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice
Questions & Answers Psychophysics, Signal Detection &
Hearing Thresholds 2026/2027. Every item uses a focused exam
stem, four response options, a keyed response, and a clear
rationale, making it easier to understand the subject, spot
distractors, and build real exam confidence.
Page 1
, Question 1
In a yes/no detection task, the hit rate is 0.90 and the false-alarm rate is 0.30. If
the observer becomes more liberal (criterion shifts left) while sensitivity
remains constant, which pair of hit and false-alarm rates is most consistent with
this shift?
A. Hit = 0.95, FA = 0.50
B. Hit = 0.80, FA = 0.10
C. Hit = 0.95, FA = 0.10
D. Hit = 0.70, FA = 0.30
Correct Answer: A - Hit = 0.95, FA = 0.50
RATIONALE
A leftward criterion shift increases both hit and false-alarm rates while
d' remains constant. Option A shows both rates increasing, preserving
d'. Option B shows a rightward shift (more conservative). Option C
changes d'. Option D lowers hit rate without changing FA, inconsistent
with a pure criterion shift.
Question 2
A 2-interval forced-choice (2IFC) procedure typically yields lower thresholds
than a yes/no procedure primarily because:
A. It eliminates the influence of the observer's criterion.
B. It increases the observer's sensitivity (d').
C. It reduces internal noise.
D. It allows the observer to use a higher decision criterion.
Correct Answer: A - It eliminates the influence of the observer's
criterion.
Page 2
, RATIONALE
In 2IFC, the observer compares two intervals, effectively removing the
need to set an absolute criterion; this reduces bias and yields lower
thresholds. Sensitivity (d') is not inherently increased; internal noise is
unchanged; and a higher criterion would not lower thresholds.
Question 3
Which adaptive psychophysical procedure is designed to estimate the 70.7%
correct point on the psychometric function?
A. Method of constant stimuli
B. Transformed up-down (e.g., 2-down 1-up)
C. Method of adjustment
D. Block up-down
Correct Answer: B - Transformed up-down (e.g., 2-down 1-up)
RATIONALE
A 2-down 1-up staircase converges on the 70.7% correct point. The
method of constant stimuli is not adaptive; method of adjustment is
not adaptive in the same way; block up-down targets different
percentages.
Question 4
In a masking experiment, a 1-kHz signal is masked by a narrowband noise
centered at 1 kHz. If the bandwidth of the noise is increased beyond the critical
band, threshold for the signal:
A. Continues to increase linearly with bandwidth.
B. Remains constant regardless of bandwidth.
C. Decreases because more noise is present.
D. Increases only if the noise is modulated.
Correct Answer: B - Remains constant regardless of bandwidth.
Page 3
, RATIONALE
Once the noise bandwidth exceeds the critical band, only the noise
within the critical band around the signal contributes to masking;
further increases in bandwidth do not raise threshold. Thus threshold
remains constant. Options A, C, and D misstate the critical band
concept.
Question 5
A listener's threshold for a 10-ms tone burst is 30 dB SPL. According to
temporal integration, what would be the approximate threshold for a 200-ms
tone burst?
A. 10 dB SPL
B. 20 dB SPL
C. 30 dB SPL
D. 40 dB SPL
Correct Answer: B - 20 dB SPL
RATIONALE
Temporal integration predicts a 3 dB decrease in threshold per
doubling of duration up to ~200-300 ms. From 10 ms to 200 ms is
about 4.3 doublings, yielding ~13 dB improvement; 30 dB 10 dB 20
dB SPL. Other options do not reflect this rule.
Question 6
Which statement best describes the relationship between frequency selectivity
and the upward spread of masking?
A. Upward spread of masking is greater for listeners with sharper tuning.
B. Upward spread of masking is reduced when the masker is below the
signal frequency.
C. Upward spread of masking reflects the asymmetric shape of the
auditory filter.
D. Upward spread of masking is independent of cochlear nonlinearity.
Page 4
