Effects of Idiodynamic Set and Stimulus Characteristics on Numeral Homonym Associates

Abstract

Three groups of 60 and one group of 100 Ss associated to word lists which varied in the order of occurrence of 4 numeral homonyms (e.g., eight-ate), in the position of an unambiguous numeral ( viz., three) in the stimulus list, and in the number of intervening non-numeral stimulus words. Numeral responses were facilitated in a non-specific manner by the unambiguous numeral and by a decreased interval between the numeral stimulus words. Individual differences in a contrast-logical coordinate idiodynamic set were significantly related to the numeral response tendency. It was concluded that word association responses are determined by the interaction between transient stimulus effects and enduring characteristics of individual Ss.