Response bias affects perceptual asymmetry scores and performance measures on a dichotic listening task

Author(s): Emmerich, D. S., Katkin, E. S.

Journal/Book: Neuropsychologia. 1997; 35: The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England OX5 1GB. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 1475-1482.

Abstract: A dichotic listening paradigm discussed by Sidtis and Bryden (Neuropsychologia, 1978, 16, 627-632) allows one to present non-verbal as well as Verbal material. This paradigm also permits signal-detection analyses to separate response biases from discrimination abilities. The present study used Sidtis' (Neuropsychologia, 1981, 19, 103-112) Complex Tone Task as an example of the paradigm. Employing signal-detection analyses, we demonstrated that commonly used performance and asymmetry indices are confounded by response bias. Several indices based on signal-detection measures are suggested to replace current widely used measures. As pointed out by Bryden and Sprott (Neuropsychologia, 1981, 19, 571-581), currently the usefulness of a perceptual asymmetry score is mainly determined by mathematical and statistical properties rather than by a theoretical framework. Thus, the choice of a particular index based on signal-detection theory is arbitrary. The present results and those of Katsuki et al. (Journal of Speech and Nearing Research, 1984, 27, 444-448) suggest that the confounding effect of response bias may be present in a variety of experiments investigating lateral processing.

Note: Article Katkin ES, SUNY Stony Brook, Dept Psychol, Stony Brook,NY 11794 USA

Keyword(s): dichotic listening; perceptual asymmetry; complex tones; signal detection; response bias; COMPLEX TONE TEST; SPEECH-DISCRIMINATION; LANGUAGE FUNCTION; LATERALITY; PITCH; CONTINUUM

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