The Effects of Semantic Neighborhood Density on the Processing of Ambiguous Words
Abstract
Semantic neighborhood density’s effects on the processing of ambiguous words were examined in three lexical decision experiments. Semantic neighborhoods were defined in terms of semantic set size and connectivity in Experiment 1, and in terms of semantic set size in Experiments 2 and 3. In Experiment 1, set size, connectivity, and ambiguity were crossed. An ambiguity disadvantage was observed for large set, high connectivity words, and there was some suggestion of an ambiguity advantage for small set, high connectivity words. Experiments 2 and 3 held connectivity constant at a high level, and set size and ambiguity were crossed, with Experiment 3 using pseudohomophone nonwords. Neither experiment produced an ambiguity advantage. Participants responded faster to unambiguous words relative to ambiguous words, particularly for large set size words, essentially supporting Experiment 1’s results. These results are discussed within a framework in which meaning-level competition can affect the recognition of semantically ambiguous words.