Same-different judgments with words and nonwords: The differential effects of relative size

Words were paired with words and nonwords with nonwords in a simultaneous matching task requiring a same-different judgment. A difference in size slowed “same” RTs for both words and nonwords, while “differ” RTs for both words and nonwords were unaffected. These results do not support Bruder and Silverman’s 1974 conclusion that the word processing system filters size. The effects of relative size differences were discussed in terms of (a) normalization procedures and (b) changes in states of evidence leading to alterations in a response selection stage.     

Visual imagery: A case study

This paper describes the performance of a subject who, when presented with a word or a sentence, is abnormally proficient at spelling this material in reverse order. She reports that she does this by visualizing this material and reading off from this visual image. Her tachistoscopic performance is also abnormally good. It is suggested that her superiority in these two tasks is achieved principally because her internal visual representations are extremely resistant to disruption by other mental activities.     

The influence of haptic size information upon visual judgments of absolute distance

When O views a blank triangle of light under completely reduced conditions, he is able to use information about the size of this visual stimulus conveyed via the haptic modality when he is attempting to judge the absolute distance of the visual stimulus. However, distance is consistently underesti-mated in this situation. When haptically-indicated size is held constant, judged distance varies inversely with retinalsubtense, even though the different retinal subtenses are viewed by different Os. A variant of the size-distance invariance hypothesis also appears to hold in these circumstances.     

Phonological recoding and lexical access

Four experiments are reported that examine the effects of homophony (e.g., SAIL/SALE) on response latency in a lexical decision task. The results indicated that an effect of homophony was evident only if the nonword distractors consisted of legal, pronounceable strings (e.g., SLINT), but that this effect disappeared if the nonwords sounded like English words (e.g., BRANE). An optional encoding strategy is proposed to account for this differential effect. It is suggested that while both graphemic and phonemic encoding occurred simultaneously, naive subjects tended to rely on the outcome of the phonological route. However, when such reliance produced a high error rate (i.e., when the nonwords sounded like English words),. these subjects were able to abandon a phonological strategy and rely on the graphemic encoding procedure instead. Two further aspects of the results are of interest. First, the less frequent member of a homophone pair was slower when compared with a control item if the nonword distractors were of the SLINT type, but not different if they were of the BRANE type. The high-frequency members did not differ from their controls in either nonword environment. Second, in a homophone “repetition” experiment, the frequency order of presentation within pairs of homophones (i.e., the high-frequency member followed by the low-frequency member, or vice versa) had a substantial effect. A spelling recheck procedure and a response-inhibitory mechanism are postulated to incorporate these effects into a dual-encoding direct-access model of word recognition.     

A miniprocessor PDP8/e-based system for investigations of on-line language processing: Automated program for psycholinguistic experiments (APPLE)

An on-line reaction time program designed for psycholinguistics research implemented on a DEC PDP8/e minicomputer is described. Current applications include: phoneme monitor, click detection, lexical decision, and sentence verification experiments. This assembly language program (PAL8) displays alphanumeric texts on remoted oscilloscopes and records decision-dependent response times with 1-msec accuracy. The system allows for simultaneous testing of three subjects. It operates either according to internally generated timing or in synchrony with audio tape. Individuals with little or no computer background can develop and run experiments without difficulty.     

Book reviews

Ribsbn, A. H. The Developmental Neurqpsychology of Sensory Deprivation. London: Academic Press. 1975. Pp. xiii and 303. £7.90. ISBN 012 588550 4.

Kennedy, A. and Wilkes, A. Studies in Long Term Memory. London: Wiley, 1975. Pp. xiii + 358. £10,00. ISBN 0471 46905 X.

Osherson,D. N. Logical Abilities in Children. Vols. I, Ii and III. Ptomoac, Md: Erlbaum 1974, 1974, 1975. Pp. 162, 272. £5.45, £5.45, £9.20.

Kaufman L., Sight and Mind: an Introduction to Visual Perception. Oxford University Press. 197s. Pp. ix + 580. £8.75.

McCormick,E. J. Human Factors in Engineering and Design. Fourth edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1976. Pp. xi + 491. £13.70.

Chapman, T. and Foot, H. (Eds). Humour and Laughter: Theory, Research and Applicatim. London: Wiley. 1976. Pp. 348. £9.50 ISBN 0471 14612 9.

Estes,W. K. (Ed.). Handbook of Learning and Cognitive Processes. Vol. I. Introduction to Concepts and Issues. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum Associates. 1975. £9.20. ISBN 0470 24585 9.

Markel, J. D. and Gray, Jr., A. H. Linear Prediction of Speech. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 1976. Pp. 288. $30.00.     

The technique of path coefficients

A derivation of equations fundamental to the technique of path coefficients is given. Suggestions are made with respect to the calculations required in the use of the technique. The relations of the technique to those of partial correlation, semi-partial correlation, part correlation, multiple correlation, and factor analysis are discussed. Some consideration is given to the merits and limitations of the technique of path coefficients.