Tulips to Thresholds

This famed psychologist, instrumental in the adaptation of signal detection theory to the psychology of perception and as a central tool in medical diagnostics, relates his personal memoir. He tells of his life from childhood among the tulips through his career amidst diverse areas of science: sensory processes, cognitive science, signal detection theory, information theory, and statistical decision making. The star in the crown for John Swets is his application of signal detection theory to decision making in medicine. But he is also justifiably proud of the successful extension of signal detection theory to information retrieval, quality control, cockpit warnings, weather forecasting, materials testing, survey research and aptitude testing. Tulip to Thresholds gives us a whole picture of the man: his early growing up; parents and grandparents, church, schools, sports, Michigan and MIT where surrounded by bright and innovative minds; work at BBN; the Rosetta Stone of the ROC curve; the ROC and Medicine; awards and the general affairs of the profession. Lively, interesting reading about a notable innovator in science.