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Facilitation in Recognizing Pairs of Words: Evidence of a Dependence
between Retrieval Operations
By David E. Meyer & Roger W. Schvaneveldt
Presented by Zhang Qunxing
Outline: Research Question and hypotheses Literature Review Experiments (2) Discussion Serial-decision model Location-shifting model
Research Question The present study investigates into the effect
of meaning on recognition of pairs of words in lexical decision task.
Hypotheses: Retrieval operations are separate,
successive decisions. The time taken depends on the associative
relation between the two words.
Literature Review: semantic factors influencing lexical access
1. Rubenstein et al. (1970)—frequency effect and homograph effect lexical decision task Results:
High frequency words < low frequency words Homographs < nonhomographs
Suggested explanation: Word frequency affects the order of examining stored words in long-term
memory. More replicas of homographs are stored in long-term memory.
2. Meyer & Ellis (1970) – semantic category effect semantic decision task Results:
Smaller category < lexical decision < larger category Suggested explanation:
Semantic decision involves searching through stored words in the semantic category.
Experiments
Task: lexical decision task with two strings of letters on display
yes-no task: yes if both strings are words same-difference task: same if both strings are
either words or nonwords
Procedure: Ready signal (1 sec.) → stimuli display → subject response → interval (2 sec.)
Note: Correct and quick response is encouraged by enforcing penalty on errors and mean RTs longer than 1 sec.
Stimuli and Required Response
Result
Exp. 1:
Implication: Degree of association affects lexical decision in the yes-no task.
Exp. 2:
Exp. 1 VS Exp. 2:
Discussionserial-decision model for pair word recognition: separate, successive decisions on the two strings of letters
General description:
Explanatory power of the serial-decision model:
1. In yes-no task, Nw-W < W-Nw, Nw-Nw = Nw-W because only first decision is sufficient when the
top string is a nonword.
2. In yes-no task, high error rate for W-Nw pair because of premature termination of processing
after the first decision
3. same-different task RT > yes-no task RT because same-different task demands comparison
of the two decisions.
The time taken to make a lexical decision:
1. to decide that a string is a word: 183 ± 14 msec. In yes-no task, T (W-Nw) = T (W) + T (Nw) = 1087 msec. T (Nw-W) = T (Nw) = 904 msec. So T (W) = T (W-Nw) – T (Nw-W) = 183 msec. 2. to make a comparison for “same” decision: 216 ± 68 msec. for “different” decision: W-Nw RT (same-different
task – yes-no task) = 1318–1087 = 231 ± 76 msec.
Operation underlying the decisions: location-shifting model Words have locations reserved in long-term memory.
→ Association effect implies the closer distance
between the locations of two associated words. → Retrieval operation R2 depends on the previous
operation R1 – shifting from Location 1 to Location 2.
Explanatory power of location-shifting model: 1. In same-different task, W-Nw < Nw-W. ∵ Location is preselected to familiar sector (word
sector). ∴ W-Nw involves one major shift: familiar → unfamiliar Nw-W involves two major shifts: familiar → unfamiliar → familiar
2. Schaeffer & Wallace’s studies (1969, 1970) – semantic category decision
Results: Semantic similarity facilitated “same” response and inhibited
“different” response.
Original suggested explanation: comparing meanings of the words
Revision of the explanation There are two components in the judgment process: retrieval
process (location-shifting) + meaning comparison.
General Conclusion:
No matter what process underlies lexical access, whether it is spread excitation, location shifting, comparison of meanings, or other, there exists association effect in word recognition, which is independent of task type.
Thank you!
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