Prediction of Word-Recognition Thresholds on the Basis of Stimulus-Parameters

Abstract

The effect of stimulus-parameters on word-recognition thresholds was investigated. Fifty words were tachistoscopically administered to 24 subjects with an average age of 16 4 years. Of the 40 parameters analyzed, the following were the best predictors of the thresholds and were included in a multiple regression equation: (a) Classification of words into concrete nouns vs. all others; (b) Classification of words with vs. without prefixes; (c) Logarithms of word-frequencies; (d) Number of letters. The multiple correlation (0 74) and the correlation with the logarithms of word-frequencies (-0 50) are surprisingly low. The correlations could be raised considerably if counts of children's rather than adult's language were used. Based on this finding and the high correlation between thresholds and our classification of concrete nouns and other words, it was concluded that recognition of words is to a greater degree dependent on the frequency with which subjects had prior experiences with objects (or perceptual images) rather than on the frequency with which subjects had perceived or used the names attached to them.