Abstract
This experiment investigates the effects of using different familiarization instructions (Spell or Pronounce) on associative latency and learning. Significant effects (reduction in associative latency and the number of errors to criterion) were obtained only with instructions to pronounce. The implications of this phenomenon are discussed in terms of the effect of familiarization on meaningfulness. The reasons for discarding present, widely-used definitions of meaningfulness are cited.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Archer, E. James. A re-evaluation of the meaningfulness of all possible CVC trigrams. Psychol. Monogr., 1960, 74, No. 10 (Whole No. 497).
Gillooly, William B. Meaningfulness as a function of the latency of association. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 1964.
Gillooly, William B. The effect of familiarization on associative latency. Psychon. Sci., 1965, 3, 235–236.
Glaze, J. A. The association value of non-sense syllables. J. genet. Psychol., 1928, 35, 255–267.
Hilgard, E. R. Methods and procedures in the study of learning. In S. S. Stevens (Ed.), Handbook of experimental psychol., New York: Wiley & Sons, 1951.
Johnson, R. C. Latency and association value as predictors of rate of verbal learning. J. verbal Learn. verbal Behav., 1964, 3, 77–78.
Noble, C. E. Meaningfulness and familiarity. In C. N. Cofer & B. S. Musgrave (Eds.), Verbal behavior and learning. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963.
Riley, D. A., & Phillips, L. W. The effects of syllable familiarization on rote learning, association value, and reminiscence. J. exp. Psychol., 1959, 57, 372–379.
Schulz, R. W., & Thysell, R. The effect of familiarization on meaningfulness. J. verbal Learn. verbal Behav., 1965, 4, 409–413.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gillooly, W.B. The effect of familiarization instructions on associative latency and learning. Psychon Sci 4, 303–304 (1966). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03342307
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03342307