,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 distinguish sensitivity (d') from response bias (criterion) in auditory detection tasks,
Compare and contrast classical psychophysical methods (method of limits, constant stimuli,
adjustment) in terms of efficiency, bias, and threshold estimation, Interpret masking, loudness and
and temporal integration data to infer underlying cochlear and neural mechanisms. 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.
Q1 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO DISTINGUISH SENSITIVITY (D') FROM
RESPONSE BIAS (CRITERION) IN AUDITORY DETECTION TASKS
In a yes/no detection task, a listener's hit rate is 0.90 and false-alarm rate is 0.30.
Using the standard normal distribution, what is the approximate d'?
A. 0.52
B. 1.81 CORRECT
C. 2.33
D. 0.60
RATIONALE: d' = z(H) z(FA). z(0.90) 1.28, z(0.30) 0.52, so d' 1.28 (0.52) = 1.80. Option A
incorrectly subtracts z-scores without sign correction; C adds instead of subtracting; D uses raw
proportions without z-transformation.
Page 2
, Q2 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO DISTINGUISH SENSITIVITY (D') FROM
RESPONSE BIAS (CRITERION) IN AUDITORY DETECTION TASKS
Which classical psychophysical method is most susceptible to errors of
habituation and expectation, and why?
A. Method of constant stimuli, because stimulus order is randomized
B. Method of adjustment, because the listener controls stimulus intensity
C. Method of limits, because stimuli are presented in ascending or descending series
CORRECT
D. Adaptive staircase, because step size changes with performance
RATIONALE: The method of limits presents stimuli in monotonic series, leading listeners to
persist in a response (habituation) or anticipate a change (expectation). Constant stimuli
randomizes order, reducing these errors; adjustment and adaptive staircases are less affected by
sequential dependencies.
Q3 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO DISTINGUISH SENSITIVITY (D') FROM
RESPONSE BIAS (CRITERION) IN AUDITORY DETECTION TASKS
A listener's pure-tone threshold at 4000 Hz improves by 15 dB when a contralateral
broadband noise is presented. This phenomenon is most consistent with:
A. The occlusion effect
B. The precedence effect
C. The contralateral medial olivocochlear reflex CORRECT
D. Temporal integration
RATIONALE: Contralateral noise activates the medial olivocochlear bundle, reducing cochlear
amplifier gain and improving detection of a probe in noise. The occlusion effect relates to
bone-conduction low-frequency enhancement; the precedence effect concerns localization;
temporal integration concerns duration-dependent threshold.
Page 3
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 distinguish sensitivity (d') from response bias (criterion) in auditory detection tasks,
Compare and contrast classical psychophysical methods (method of limits, constant stimuli,
adjustment) in terms of efficiency, bias, and threshold estimation, Interpret masking, loudness and
and temporal integration data to infer underlying cochlear and neural mechanisms. 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.
Q1 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO DISTINGUISH SENSITIVITY (D') FROM
RESPONSE BIAS (CRITERION) IN AUDITORY DETECTION TASKS
In a yes/no detection task, a listener's hit rate is 0.90 and false-alarm rate is 0.30.
Using the standard normal distribution, what is the approximate d'?
A. 0.52
B. 1.81 CORRECT
C. 2.33
D. 0.60
RATIONALE: d' = z(H) z(FA). z(0.90) 1.28, z(0.30) 0.52, so d' 1.28 (0.52) = 1.80. Option A
incorrectly subtracts z-scores without sign correction; C adds instead of subtracting; D uses raw
proportions without z-transformation.
Page 2
, Q2 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO DISTINGUISH SENSITIVITY (D') FROM
RESPONSE BIAS (CRITERION) IN AUDITORY DETECTION TASKS
Which classical psychophysical method is most susceptible to errors of
habituation and expectation, and why?
A. Method of constant stimuli, because stimulus order is randomized
B. Method of adjustment, because the listener controls stimulus intensity
C. Method of limits, because stimuli are presented in ascending or descending series
CORRECT
D. Adaptive staircase, because step size changes with performance
RATIONALE: The method of limits presents stimuli in monotonic series, leading listeners to
persist in a response (habituation) or anticipate a change (expectation). Constant stimuli
randomizes order, reducing these errors; adjustment and adaptive staircases are less affected by
sequential dependencies.
Q3 APPLY SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY TO DISTINGUISH SENSITIVITY (D') FROM
RESPONSE BIAS (CRITERION) IN AUDITORY DETECTION TASKS
A listener's pure-tone threshold at 4000 Hz improves by 15 dB when a contralateral
broadband noise is presented. This phenomenon is most consistent with:
A. The occlusion effect
B. The precedence effect
C. The contralateral medial olivocochlear reflex CORRECT
D. Temporal integration
RATIONALE: Contralateral noise activates the medial olivocochlear bundle, reducing cochlear
amplifier gain and improving detection of a probe in noise. The occlusion effect relates to
bone-conduction low-frequency enhancement; the precedence effect concerns localization;
temporal integration concerns duration-dependent threshold.
Page 3
