Stochastic Learning and a Quantal Model of Signal Detection

Psychologists approach problems differently from engineers, in that they are concerned with actual, not optimal, behavior. They ask what mechanisms humans use, how their behavior can best be described, and what affects their performance. This paper will discuss one such behavioral problem, the way in which a change in an auditory signal is detected. It will be necessary to consider three clearly established factors that contribute to actual detection behavior: the physiological effect of the signal on the observer, his motivations, and the learning that takes place.