Effect of Pre-Recognition Exposures on Tachistoscopic Word Perception
E. Rae Harcum · Perceptual and Motor Skills · 1964
This experiment tests the hypothesis that partial information about a word from a pre-recognition tachistoscopic exposure affects subsequent recognition accuracy for that word. Word recognition under modified Methods of Limits and Single Stimuli was compared, with the only procedural difference being that O saw five different words on five successive ascending exposures (Single Stimuli), or the same word on five successive ascending exposures (Limits). It was predicted that the pre-recognition exposures would facilitate recognition of “Predictable” words, i.e., words which could be correctly guessed after only some letters had been perceived, but hinder perception of “Non-predictable” words. Since words of predictable and non-predictable categories were recognized equally often, the procedure for differentiating between these words was not effective. Perceptual accuracy was greater under the Method of Limits for both classifications of words.