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In a Signal Detection Theory experiment, Kwame is told that he will receive $1 each time he correctly detects the signal. How will this affect Kwame's results?

User Averell
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Final answer:

When Kwame is offered $1 for each correct signal detection, his motivation is influenced, potentially improving his signal detection ability by increasing his vigilance but also possibly causing more false alarms.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a Signal Detection Theory experiment, if Kwame is told that he will receive $1 each time he correctly detects the signal, this could potentially affect Kwame's results by influencing his motivation and perception. The reward structure may increase Kwame's motivation to detect the signal more accurately, which in turn could improve his signal detection ability. This phenomenon is due to the motivational effect on perception, which is a key element of signal detection theory, highlighting how external incentives can shift our ability to discriminate between a true sensory stimulus and background noise.Furthermore, with the incentive in place, Kwame might also change his criterion for deciding whether a signal is present. In other words, he may become more prone to saying a signal is present, thus possibly increasing the number of hits but also potentially increasing the number of false alarms. The incentive aligns with the concept that motivation can indeed affect the detection and differentiation of signals amidst noise, making him more vigilant but at the risk of more frequent misidentifications.

User Kit Ramos
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