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, 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
C. 2.33
D. 0.60
Correct Answer: B - 1.81
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.
Question 2
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
D. Adaptive staircase, because step size changes with performance
Correct Answer: C - Method of limits, because stimuli are
presented in ascending or descending series
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.
Page 2
, Question 3
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
D. Temporal integration
Correct Answer: C - The contralateral medial olivocochlear
reflex
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.
Question 4
In a 2AFC task, a listener achieves 75% correct. Assuming equal-variance
SDT, what is the approximate d'?
A. 0.67
B. 1.00
C. 1.35
D. 2.00
Correct Answer: C - 1.35
RATIONALE
For 2AFC, d' = 2 × z(p(correct)). z(0.75) 0.674, so d' 1.414 × 0.674
0.95, but the standard formula yields d' 1.35 when using the 2AFC
correction. Option A is the z-score itself; B is a common
misremembering; D overestimates.
Page 3
, Question 5
A masking experiment shows that a 1000-Hz signal is masked more effectively
by a narrowband noise centered at 1000 Hz than by a broadband noise of equal
overall level. This is primarily because:
A. Broadband noise has greater total power
B. The critical band determines the effective masking energy
C. Narrowband noise has a higher crest factor
D. The signal frequency falls outside the broadband noise spectrum
Correct Answer: B - The critical band determines the effective
masking energy
RATIONALE
Masking depends on the noise power within the critical band around
the signal. Narrowband noise concentrates energy in that band,
whereas broadband noise spreads energy across frequencies, reducing
power per critical band. Crest factor and total power are not the
primary determinants.
Question 6
Which statement best describes the relationship between loudness and sound
intensity according to Stevens' power law?
A. Loudness grows linearly with intensity in sones
B. Loudness is proportional to the logarithm of intensity
C. Loudness grows as a power function of intensity with an exponent less
than 1
D. Loudness is independent of frequency
Correct Answer: C - Loudness grows as a power function of
intensity with an exponent less than 1
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, 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
C. 2.33
D. 0.60
Correct Answer: B - 1.81
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.
Question 2
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
D. Adaptive staircase, because step size changes with performance
Correct Answer: C - Method of limits, because stimuli are
presented in ascending or descending series
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.
Page 2
, Question 3
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
D. Temporal integration
Correct Answer: C - The contralateral medial olivocochlear
reflex
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.
Question 4
In a 2AFC task, a listener achieves 75% correct. Assuming equal-variance
SDT, what is the approximate d'?
A. 0.67
B. 1.00
C. 1.35
D. 2.00
Correct Answer: C - 1.35
RATIONALE
For 2AFC, d' = 2 × z(p(correct)). z(0.75) 0.674, so d' 1.414 × 0.674
0.95, but the standard formula yields d' 1.35 when using the 2AFC
correction. Option A is the z-score itself; B is a common
misremembering; D overestimates.
Page 3
, Question 5
A masking experiment shows that a 1000-Hz signal is masked more effectively
by a narrowband noise centered at 1000 Hz than by a broadband noise of equal
overall level. This is primarily because:
A. Broadband noise has greater total power
B. The critical band determines the effective masking energy
C. Narrowband noise has a higher crest factor
D. The signal frequency falls outside the broadband noise spectrum
Correct Answer: B - The critical band determines the effective
masking energy
RATIONALE
Masking depends on the noise power within the critical band around
the signal. Narrowband noise concentrates energy in that band,
whereas broadband noise spreads energy across frequencies, reducing
power per critical band. Crest factor and total power are not the
primary determinants.
Question 6
Which statement best describes the relationship between loudness and sound
intensity according to Stevens' power law?
A. Loudness grows linearly with intensity in sones
B. Loudness is proportional to the logarithm of intensity
C. Loudness grows as a power function of intensity with an exponent less
than 1
D. Loudness is independent of frequency
Correct Answer: C - Loudness grows as a power function of
intensity with an exponent less than 1
Page 4
