Interactions between Word Frequency and Neighborhood Frequency in Lexical Access

Abstract

In this study, we attempted to determine whether larger NF effects occur for low-WF words than for high-WF words. The experiment employed a lexical-decision task, in which participants were presented with a lists of single items, half of which were words and half were pronounceable nonwords, varied along possible extreme values of high/low WF and NF for 4- and 5-letter words. The primary theoretical implication of the study is that there is no search process involved in lexical access, rather that lexical access is a selection event based on the level of activation of a lexical entry produced by semantic, orthographic, and phonological information as it is processed pre-perceptually. Some practical implications of the study are a better understanding of dyslexia and ways to improve the reading habits of children.