Further Study of Associative Reactions to Compound Verbal Stimuli

摘要

Association data were obtained for word compounds (chiefly adjective-noun pairs) and for the component words of the compounds. Ratings were obtained for the compounds on a scale descriptive of the change in meaning in the modi¬fied word because of the modifier. Associative overlap scores were computed between each component and the compound, and, for the cases in which common responses occurred to both the components predictions of the frequency with which the common responses would occur to the compound were made. Little or no relationship was found between associative overlap scores and rated meaning change or between the predicted and obtained values for response frequencies to the compounds. A characterization of the compounds is attempted in relation to those in which successful and unsuccessful predictions were made and in relation to rated change in meaning. Brief discussion is provided concerning the rating scales used.