SHS 311 EXAM 3 HEARING SCIENCE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS PSYCHOPHYSICS, SIGNAL
DETECTION & HEARING THRESHOLDS 2026/2027
50 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply signal detection theory to interpret d', , and ROC data in auditory experiments
2 Select and justify appropriate psychophysical procedures for measuring thresholds and suprathreshold
discrimination
3 Integrate concepts of temporal integration, frequency selectivity, and masking to predict detection
performance
4 Critically evaluate the neural and theoretical mechanisms underlying threshold sensitivity and
discrimination
5 SHS 311 Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice Questions & Answers Psychophysics
6 Signal Detection & Hearing Thresholds 2026
7 2027
8 Foundations of Speech and Hearing Science - Hearing Science / Psychoacoustics
9 Applied Speech and Hearing Science - Hearing Science / Psychoacoustics
10 Advanced Speech and Hearing Science - Hearing Science / Psychoacoustics
11 Speech and Hearing Science - Hearing Science / Psychoacoustics Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 50 carefully worded exam questions drawn from SHS 311
Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice Questions & Answers Psychophysics, Signal Detection &
Hearing Thresholds 2026/2027, with the strongest emphasis placed on Apply signal detection
theory to interpret d', , and ROC data in auditory experiments, Select and justify appropriate
psychophysical procedures for measuring thresholds and suprathreshold discrimination, Integrate
concepts of temporal integration, frequency selectivity and and masking to predict detection
performance. Every item follows the wording style and level of reasoning you meet in the real
paper, and each one is paired with a clear rationale so the correct choice is never a guess. Work
through the set at your own pace, mark the questions that slow you down, then come back to them
until the reasoning feels automatic. Learners who revise this way walk into the exam room
recognising the pattern behind the questions instead of meeting them for the first time. Keep going
- steady, honest practice is what turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Page 1
,Q1 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO INTERPRET D', , AND ROC DATA IN AUDITORY
EXPERIMENTS
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 CORRECT
B. Hit = 0.80, FA = 0.10
C. Hit = 0.95, FA = 0.10
D. Hit = 0.70, FA = 0.30
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.
Q2 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO INTERPRET D', , AND ROC DATA IN AUDITORY
EXPERIMENTS
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. CORRECT
B. It increases the observer's sensitivity (d').
C. It reduces internal noise.
D. It allows the observer to use a higher decision criterion.
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.
Page 2
, Q3 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO INTERPRET D', , AND ROC DATA IN AUDITORY
EXPERIMENTS
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) CORRECT
C. Method of adjustment
D. Block up-down
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.
Q4 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO INTERPRET D', , AND ROC DATA IN AUDITORY
EXPERIMENTS
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. CORRECT
C. Decreases because more noise is present.
D. Increases only if the noise is modulated.
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.
Page 3
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS PSYCHOPHYSICS, SIGNAL
DETECTION & HEARING THRESHOLDS 2026/2027
50 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply signal detection theory to interpret d', , and ROC data in auditory experiments
2 Select and justify appropriate psychophysical procedures for measuring thresholds and suprathreshold
discrimination
3 Integrate concepts of temporal integration, frequency selectivity, and masking to predict detection
performance
4 Critically evaluate the neural and theoretical mechanisms underlying threshold sensitivity and
discrimination
5 SHS 311 Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice Questions & Answers Psychophysics
6 Signal Detection & Hearing Thresholds 2026
7 2027
8 Foundations of Speech and Hearing Science - Hearing Science / Psychoacoustics
9 Applied Speech and Hearing Science - Hearing Science / Psychoacoustics
10 Advanced Speech and Hearing Science - Hearing Science / Psychoacoustics
11 Speech and Hearing Science - Hearing Science / Psychoacoustics Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 50 carefully worded exam questions drawn from SHS 311
Exam 3 Hearing Science Practice Questions & Answers Psychophysics, Signal Detection &
Hearing Thresholds 2026/2027, with the strongest emphasis placed on Apply signal detection
theory to interpret d', , and ROC data in auditory experiments, Select and justify appropriate
psychophysical procedures for measuring thresholds and suprathreshold discrimination, Integrate
concepts of temporal integration, frequency selectivity and and masking to predict detection
performance. Every item follows the wording style and level of reasoning you meet in the real
paper, and each one is paired with a clear rationale so the correct choice is never a guess. Work
through the set at your own pace, mark the questions that slow you down, then come back to them
until the reasoning feels automatic. Learners who revise this way walk into the exam room
recognising the pattern behind the questions instead of meeting them for the first time. Keep going
- steady, honest practice is what turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Page 1
,Q1 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO INTERPRET D', , AND ROC DATA IN AUDITORY
EXPERIMENTS
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 CORRECT
B. Hit = 0.80, FA = 0.10
C. Hit = 0.95, FA = 0.10
D. Hit = 0.70, FA = 0.30
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.
Q2 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO INTERPRET D', , AND ROC DATA IN AUDITORY
EXPERIMENTS
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. CORRECT
B. It increases the observer's sensitivity (d').
C. It reduces internal noise.
D. It allows the observer to use a higher decision criterion.
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.
Page 2
, Q3 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO INTERPRET D', , AND ROC DATA IN AUDITORY
EXPERIMENTS
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) CORRECT
C. Method of adjustment
D. Block up-down
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.
Q4 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO INTERPRET D', , AND ROC DATA IN AUDITORY
EXPERIMENTS
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. CORRECT
C. Decreases because more noise is present.
D. Increases only if the noise is modulated.
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.
Page 3
