A compilation of 800 word neighborhoods by frequency

Abstract

A number of inconsistencies are evident in the literature examining word-neighborhood size and frequency effects. One reason for the inconsistency may be that there are no standardized materials and criteria used in the different studies. Each experimenter has devised his or her word neighborhoods using different criteria for neighborhood size and frequency. The purpose of the present study was to develop a standardized set of word neighborhoods. Eight hundred orthographic neighborhoods were constructed with 4- and 5-letter words. The word lists were devised relative to the key elements that have been identified in the literature: (1) target-word frequency, (2) number of words in the neighborhood, (3) number of words higher in frequency than the target word, (4) number of letter positions contributing to the neighborhood, and (5) summation of the frequency of all neighbors (providing a standard metric for high- vs. low-frequency neighborhoods). Copyright 1997 Psychonomic Society, Inc.