Word—nonword classification time

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Given the currently numerous applications of word—nonword classification tasks in psychological research, the present study was designed to determine the relative influences of a large number of potentially important variables on response time in tasks of this sort. Response time data were collected from 32 subjects for 100 words and 100 nonwords. Multiple regression analyses were carried out for word and nonword data separately. The multiple correlation coefficients (R) were .84 (p < .01) and .68 (p < .01) for words and nonwords, respectively. The analyses revealed that some variables were clearly better predictors than others; and that many variables could be discarded with little cost in terms of reducing the multiple R. Recent research suggesting independence of lexical and semantic decisions is brought into question in light of the present findings; and more stringent controls over stimulus selection procedures are recommended.

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    The research was supported in part by Grant A-95 from the National Research Council of Canada to M. P. Bryden.

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