On The Interpretation Of Word Frequency As A Variable Affecting Speed Of Recognition

Item

Title
On The Interpretation Of Word Frequency As A Variable Affecting Speed Of Recognition
Date
1954
Index Abstract
Not Available
Photo Quality
Not Needed
Report Number
WADC TR 54-282
Corporate Author
Aero Medical Laboratory
Laboratory
Aero Medical Laboratory
Extent
17
PB Number
PB129575
NTRL Accession Number
AD043066
Identifier
AD0043066
Access Rights
Unknown
Distribution Classification
1
DTIC Record Exists
No
Distribution Change Authority Correspondence
AFAL LTR
Distribution Conflict
Fix
Abstract
Interpretations of the inverse relation between the duration for which a printed word must be exposed visually in order to be recognized and the frequency of occurrence of the word in a large general word count are examined critically. It is found that the most satisfactory interpretation is to regard the word's frequency in a word count as an estimate of its average probability of emission by the population of subjects used in the recognition experiment (base probability). Since the threshold of recognition is defined by the probability of emission of the word following its exposure, only a short exposure will be necessary to bring up to threshold criterion a word whose base probablility is low. The critical assumption of this interpretation is that the frequency of a word in a large general word-count represents its average probability of emission by the experimental subjects used in the recognition experiment. Three experiments evaluating the validity of this assumption for the Lorge Magazine Count are described.
Report Availability
Full text available
Date Issued
1954-06
Provenance
Hunt Library, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Type
report
Format
1 online resource
Creator
Howes, Davis H.
Media
WADCTR54-282.pdf