TY - JOUR
T1 - The crossword puzzle paradigm
T2 - The effectiveness of different word fragments as cues for the retrieval of words
AU - Goldblum, Naomi
AU - Frost, Ram
PY - 1988/3
Y1 - 1988/3
N2 - We investigated the internal structure of words in the mental lexicon by using a crossword puzzle paradigm. In two experiments, subjects were presented with word fragments along with a semantic cue, and were asked to retrieve the whole word that contained the presented fragment and was compatible with the semantic information. In Experiment 1, we found that any cluster of three adjacent letters facilitated retrieval better than dispersed letters. Moreover, syllabic clusters had a greater facilitative effect than nonsyllabic pronounceable clusters or nonpronounceable clusters. In Experiment 2, we found that syllable units facilitated retrieval better than morphemic units. The results are interpreted as evidence for the existence of lexical subunits that are larger than the letter but smaller than the word, and that are organized according to phonologic principles. We propose an interactive model for how crossword puzzles are solved.
AB - We investigated the internal structure of words in the mental lexicon by using a crossword puzzle paradigm. In two experiments, subjects were presented with word fragments along with a semantic cue, and were asked to retrieve the whole word that contained the presented fragment and was compatible with the semantic information. In Experiment 1, we found that any cluster of three adjacent letters facilitated retrieval better than dispersed letters. Moreover, syllabic clusters had a greater facilitative effect than nonsyllabic pronounceable clusters or nonpronounceable clusters. In Experiment 2, we found that syllable units facilitated retrieval better than morphemic units. The results are interpreted as evidence for the existence of lexical subunits that are larger than the letter but smaller than the word, and that are organized according to phonologic principles. We propose an interactive model for how crossword puzzles are solved.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0023972538&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3758/BF03213485
DO - 10.3758/BF03213485
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C2 - 3352521
AN - SCOPUS:0023972538
SN - 0090-502X
VL - 16
SP - 158
EP - 166
JO - Memory and Cognition
JF - Memory and Cognition
IS - 2
ER -