Picture-word differences in decision latency: a test of common-coding assumptions

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Human Memory
• Information Processing

Background:

• Single-coding models predict similar picture-word processing across semantic tasks.
• Previous research suggests modality effects in semantic decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if semantic decisions (conceptual size vs. associative relatedness) yield comparable picture-word latency differences.
• To test predictions of single-coding memory models regarding modality effects.

Main Methods:

• Three experiments were conducted using semantic decision tasks (conceptual size, associative relatedness).
• Stimuli included picture-picture (P-P), word-word (W-W), and mixed (picture-word/word-picture) pairs.
• Decision latencies were measured for each task and stimulus pairing.

Main Results:

• An interaction was observed: P-P pairs were faster than W-W pairs for size judgments, but not associative relatedness.
• Size judgments showed a clear modality effect (P-P fastest, W-W slowest).
• Associative relatedness judgments showed no significant modality effects across pair types.

Conclusions:

• Results challenge the assumption of comparable picture-word processing across different semantic decisions.
• Findings suggest that semantic task type modulates modality effects in memory.
• Revisions to common-coding models may be necessary to account for these findings.