Word Association Test
Experiment 1
Word Association Test
I. Objective
To determine which type of association test (the free association or the partially controlled association test) will elicit a shorter reaction time, and that which will elicit more response words.
II. Review of Related Literature
According to a related study, word association is a way in which words come to be associated with each other and which influence the learning and remembering of words (Richards et al, 1985). It is used in psycholinguistics to refer to relation between idea, concepts, or words, which exist in the human mind. Connection is shown sine the appearance of one idea in the mind entails the appearance of the other associated word (Sinopalnikova, 2003). The literature also said that familiarity effect is an important key in word association. If the idea was already presented to an individual beforehand, most probably, he or she will have a lesser reaction time (Miller, 1996). Time also serves as a key factor. If the subjects are being timed and if they must respond quickly, probability of uttering an unrelated word is common. While on the other hand, no time pressure results to more idiosyncratic words (Kess, 1992).
There were studies which claimed that word association test could function as a means of assessing proficiency, but later on, a follow-up study revealed that word associations in a foreign language are not clearly linked to proficiency (Randal, 1980, as cited by Wolter, 2002).
The result of the said study showed that word proficiency comes with the level of learning. Elder children tend to response with a more meaningful word rather than the younger ones which only gave simple adjectives as responses. It can be said that proficiency in English might affect word associations and competent speakers can make generalizations about the occurrence of a word and can find associated words easily.
III. Apparatus
Watch with second hand. (Appendix G)
Set I. Free association test
Word Association Test
I. Objective
To determine which type of association test (the free association or the partially controlled association test) will elicit a shorter reaction time, and that which will elicit more response words.
II. Review of Related Literature
According to a related study, word association is a way in which words come to be associated with each other and which influence the learning and remembering of words (Richards et al, 1985). It is used in psycholinguistics to refer to relation between idea, concepts, or words, which exist in the human mind. Connection is shown sine the appearance of one idea in the mind entails the appearance of the other associated word (Sinopalnikova, 2003). The literature also said that familiarity effect is an important key in word association. If the idea was already presented to an individual beforehand, most probably, he or she will have a lesser reaction time (Miller, 1996). Time also serves as a key factor. If the subjects are being timed and if they must respond quickly, probability of uttering an unrelated word is common. While on the other hand, no time pressure results to more idiosyncratic words (Kess, 1992).
There were studies which claimed that word association test could function as a means of assessing proficiency, but later on, a follow-up study revealed that word associations in a foreign language are not clearly linked to proficiency (Randal, 1980, as cited by Wolter, 2002).
The result of the said study showed that word proficiency comes with the level of learning. Elder children tend to response with a more meaningful word rather than the younger ones which only gave simple adjectives as responses. It can be said that proficiency in English might affect word associations and competent speakers can make generalizations about the occurrence of a word and can find associated words easily.
III. Apparatus
Watch with second hand. (Appendix G)
Set I. Free association test