Utilization of a forced-choice technique to verify statistical performance requirements for detection systems
R. J. Buratti, G. E. Trezona · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1975
An automated forced-choice method of evaluating detection performance is employed instead of the familiar fixed-threshold technique. The latter method utilizes a number of preselected, constant thresholds to estimate both detection and false-alarm probabilities, whereas the former incorporates a variable threshold with a precise false-alarm probability to estimate only the detection probability. The advantages of the forced-choice technique are a predetermined false-alarm rate, a single parameter test, less required test time, and real-time monitoring of test results by minimizing the amount of data reduction. A comparison of both techniques is presented for two sets of statistics which are representative of those typically encountered in detection systems under test conditions. Because of the uncertainty associated with the variable threshold, the forced-choice results are slightly pessimistic, but are within 0.3 dB of the fixed threshold results. However, the forced-choice technique can easily be made equivalent to the fixed-threshold procedure by incorporating a correction factor into the test procedure. Subject Classification: 60.20, 60.30.