Date:         Tue, 12 May 1998 10:00:55 -0400
Reply-To:     Jeff Mather <Jmather@HARTHOSP.ORG>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jeff Mather <Jmather@HARTHOSP.ORG>
Subject:      ROC curves for yes/no response
Content-Type: text/plain

This is a bit off the SPSS path, but can anyone tell me if there is any way
to use a nominal response to draw an ROC curve?  I'd like to compare
ultra-brief (one question) instruments for a diagnosis of depression (yes
or no) with standard questionnaire that uses a cutoff on an interval scale.
 
My assumption was that this could not be done with a y/n response; that
you need at least a three point ordinal scale (ie. always, sometimes,
never) to be able to draw the curve.
thanks