Word Frequency and Age of Acquisition as Determiners of Picture-Naming Latency

Author(s):

Carroll, John B.; White, Margaret N.

Publication Year:

1972

Report Number:

RB-72-10

Source:

ETS Research Bulletin

Document Type:

Report

Page Count:

34

Subject/Key Words:

Cognitive Development, Models, Multiple Regression Analysis, Pictorial Stimuli, Word Frequency

Abstract

In multiple regression analysis of picture-naming latencies from an experiment modeled on Oldfield and Wingfield's (1965), with 94 stimuli and 37 adult Ss, two word frequency measures had insignificant beta weights, while two measures estimating age at which the word was learned had highly significant weights. Objects whose names were learned early were named faster. This result may have important implications for the interpretation of studies using word frequency as a critical variable. It is suggested that word-retrieval may be a one-stage process that depends upon the age at which a word was learned. (36pp.)

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