Research supported by a Summer Faculty fellowship from the University of Delaware.

This study examined 40 deaf and 20 hearing adolescent students' free recall of visually presented words varied systematically with respect of signability (i.e., words that could be expressed by a single sign) and visual imagery. Results underline the importance of sign language in the memory and recall of deaf persons. (Author/PN)

In two experiments, a probe technique required subjects to respond when the digit 7 appeared in one of five-letter positions in words or nonwords, inserted at the onset and 500 msec after letter and word processing. The focus of attention given to a letter has a smaller spatial extent. (Author/CM)

Attacks the whole-word, or "look-say," method of teaching reading, widely used in the United States since 1836. Cites evidence to support this method as the sole reason for the high functional illiteracy rate in the U.S. Recommends the use of intensive phonics as the solution to America's reading problem. (NJ)

Three experiments tested contrasting predictions of a dual-representation theory and a context availability model of concreteness effects in verbal processing. Without context, reading times/lexical decision times for abstract sentences/words were longer than for concrete sentences/words. Rated context availability was a good predictor of reaction…

Presents study in which eighth and superior fifth graders were given a vocabulary test consisting of simple words and derived words. Results show superiority of fifth graders was greater for derived words due to their tendency to analyze these words into roots and suffixes. (Author/BK)

Investigated the most popular synonym for each word in a pair. Subjects (N=100) in two groups produced the noun they felt was closest in meaning to each of 279 nouns. Tables are provided showing the preferred synonym and number of subjects using it and comparisons to a previous experiment. (Author/JAC)

Argues that syllabication is a highly sophisticated skill requiring extensive knowledge of types of syllables, vowels, and consonants and their various graphic representations, and that syllabicating words in terms of sound patterns may give divisions that are more consistent with speech patterns. (FL)

Two experiments suggest that a sharp increase in reading automaticity occurs during the first grade, but that by the end of the year the development of automaticity begins to level off. (HOD)

Psycholinguistic insights relevant to diagnoses of reading difficulties are considered, and the importance of evaluating oral reading performance on significant word recognition errors rather than on total errors is emphasized. (CL)

That additional exposure to memorial material improves subsequent retrieval probabilities was explored. The effect of a recognition test on subsequent recall and recognition of categorized lists was studied. Prior recognition tests increased recall of original items, but also increased intrusions. Similarly, prior exposure increased hit rates and…

Reaction time and accuracy do not always reflect the same perceptual processes; therefore, the convergence of reaction time with accuracy within the context of a specific information processing model should be demonstrated empirically rather than assumed a priori. (Author/PN)

The results demonstrate a use of semantic information to circumvent an item-by-item search of memory. Similar results have been obtained in the fact-retrieval paradigm of long-term memory. (PN)

Examined the effect of interpersonal trust on perceptual vigilance in a tachistoscopic word-recognition study. Results indicated low trusters had lower recognition thresholds for connotatively negative words. They were more vigilant only for negative words. A manipulation intended to arouse subjects' suspicions about the experimenter was also…

Concludes that substituting easy for difficult vocabulary words makes text easier to comprehend, and that redundant information in a text contributes to successful text comprehension. (AEA)