LETTER DETECTION WITH RAPID SERIAL VISUAL PRESENTATION - EVIDENCE AGAINST WORD SUPERIORITY AT FEATURE EXTRACTION

Letter detection typically is faster and more accurate in words than nonwords. Exp I, II, and III, with 10, 20, and 24 undergraduate Ss, respectively, tested the robustness of the word superiority effect using rapid serial visual presentation of words or nonwords. Letter detection was better in words even when the 6-letter items were presented one after the other at rapid rates, up to about 10 items/sec. At yet faster rates, however, the word advantage vanished. Exps IV and V, with 10 and 20 Ss, tested whether word context aids feature extraction or the subsequent interpretation stage. Mutilation discrimination was better on words than nonwords. Mutilation detection did not differ between words and nonwords. Results indicate that letters are not seen any more clearly or rapidly in words but are simply filled in or inferred more accurately from the familiar context. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.