I was wondering how making a cutoff score higher would affect these 2?
sensitivity/specificity
- Thread starter medman88
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If you make a cutoff score higher (and above the cutoff is a positive result), you're going to decrease the number of positive results you get, so sensitivity decreases. Since the test has become "more strict" in terms of its criteria, which is why the cutoff has increased, some people who actually do have the disease might now get a negative result instead, so you increase your false-negatives and specificity increases.
I'm not a fan of these types of questions or responses because they do not offer universal solutions. You will come across graphs that show a higher bar or cutoff indicating higher sensitivity and lower specificity (opposite of what Phlostein said).
However, Phlostein's explanation is absoluteyl correct, its in how he defined the cutoff that is important. The keyword in Phlostein's explanation is "strict" criteria.
The OP did not indicate what he meant by cutoff. Its possible this is the generally accepted definition but I am not certain.
OP, your best bet is to look at a graphical representation-which FA has an excellent example of, to get a good understanding of what happens when you change the acceptable levels for sensitivity and specificity detection.
However, Phlostein's explanation is absoluteyl correct, its in how he defined the cutoff that is important. The keyword in Phlostein's explanation is "strict" criteria.
The OP did not indicate what he meant by cutoff. Its possible this is the generally accepted definition but I am not certain.
OP, your best bet is to look at a graphical representation-which FA has an excellent example of, to get a good understanding of what happens when you change the acceptable levels for sensitivity and specificity detection.
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