Local strategic control of information in visual word recognition

Abstract

In the present studies, we examined strategic flexibility in the use of lexical and sublexical information in Korean word recognition. Korean readers show a large frequency effect for words printed in the alphabetic Hangul script only if these words are embedded in a list consisting largely of logographic (Hanza) words. In the first experiment, high- and low- frequency Hangul words were preceded by Hangul or Hanza words. Frequency effects were eliminated when a Hangul target word was preceded by two Hangul words, even when the overall proportion of Hanza words in the list was large. In the second experiment, one group saw each stimulus preceded by a cue indicating which script would be seen on that trial. Frequency effects for Hangul targets were absent tinder this condition, but were present when subjects were not so cued. These results indicate that Korean readers are able to control their use of lexical and sublexical information over a small number of stimuli or even trial by trial.