Relation between radar detection and the observer's concept of a target.

Abstract

An experiment tested the hypothesis that target detectability on a PPI radar display depends on O's knowledge of the attributes denning a target. Equal numbers of O's were given either a brightness, a form, or a combined brightness-form set during training. A 4th group was given only demonstration training. The criterion test involved detection of 2 target sizes in 2 levels of visual noise for 3 target speeds. Analysis of variance revealed an interaction between set and noise level, confirming the hypothesis for the high noise level only.

Risk-taking set and target detection performance.

“…As hypothesized, when instructed to adopt a risky set, Ss made earlier detections of targets and had a higher false-positive identification rate than the same Ss when instructed to adopt a cautious set. These findings support the contention that radar detection performance can be regarded as a decision task Baldwin, Wright, and Lehr (1964) have mil that an operator's psychological set, jduced by instructions, can affect his targetiection performance on a radar display. Set, mis instance, was varied by providing difcntial information concerning the attributes a target.…”