Processing past tense in the face of conflicting cues

Table of Contents

• 1 Introduction
• 1.1 Organization of the text
• 2 Theory
• 2.1 Key terms lexica
• 2.1.1 Mental lexicon
• 2.1.2 Visual word recognition: interactive models
• 2.1.3 Inflectional morphology
• 2.2 Review of related research and literature
• 2.3 Research hypothesis
• 3 Methods
• 3.1 Priming
• 3.1.1 Masked priming
• 3.1.2 Lexical decision task
• 3.2 Methodological and procedural specifications
• 3.3 Participants
• 3.4 Experimental design
• 3.4.1 Procedure and apparatus
• 3.5 Stimuli
• 4 Results
• 5 Discussion
• 5.1 Findings in the context of the masked priming paradigm
• 5.2 Single-route or dual-route mechanism?
• 5.3 Limitation of the present study
• 6 Conclusion
• 7 References
• 8 Appendix

Objectives and Key Themes

This master's thesis aims to contribute to the ongoing debate surrounding the processing of the English past tense, specifically focusing on how conflicting cues influence this process. The study uses a masked priming paradigm with a lexical decision task to investigate the effects of morphological and form-related primes on response times. The overall goal is to provide additional data to this complex discussion by incorporating factors not extensively explored in previous research.

• The processing of regular and irregular past tense forms in English.
• The role of morphological and form-related primes in visual word recognition.
• The evaluation of single-route versus dual-route models of past tense processing.
• The impact of masked priming paradigms on lexical access.
• Analysis of response times in a lexical decision task.

Chapter Summaries

1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the central theme of the thesis: the processing and mental representation of the English past tense. It highlights the ongoing debate between single-route and dual-route models of past tense processing, citing the work of Rumelhart and McClelland (1986) as a crucial starting point. The chapter positions the current research within this debate, focusing on visual word recognition using priming paradigms, and specifically the masked priming technique to mitigate strategic responses. The study's objectives are clearly defined: to investigate how past tense primes influence the recognition of regular past tense targets and how different prime-target pairs affect response times.

2 Theory: This chapter establishes the theoretical framework for the study, delving into key concepts like the mental lexicon, models of visual word recognition (including interactive activation and dual-route cascaded models), and inflectional morphology as it relates to the English past tense. It critically reviews existing literature on past tense processing, highlighting the inconsistencies and gaps in current understanding that motivate this research. The chapter concludes by formally stating the research hypotheses.

3 Methods: This chapter meticulously outlines the experimental design and methodology employed in the study. It details the use of a masked priming paradigm integrated within a lexical decision task. The chapter specifies the participant selection criteria, the experimental procedure, the apparatus used, and a thorough description of the stimuli (prime-target pairs) used in the experiment. The careful control and precise specification of methodology are crucial for the validity and reliability of the study's findings.

4 Results: This chapter presents a detailed analysis of the quantitative data obtained from the experiment. It would typically include statistical analyses, tables, and figures illustrating the response times and accuracy rates in relation to different prime-target pairs. The presentation of data in this chapter provides the empirical foundation for the interpretations and conclusions drawn in the following discussion chapter.

5 Discussion: This chapter interprets the findings presented in Chapter 4 within the context of the theoretical framework and previous research. It examines the implications of the results for the single-route versus dual-route debate, potentially discussing how the findings support or challenge existing theories. The chapter also addresses the limitations of the present study, suggesting directions for future research to further investigate the complex issues explored.

Keywords

English past tense, visual word recognition, masked priming, lexical decision task, mental lexicon, inflectional morphology, single-route model, dual-route model, response times, morphological priming, form priming.

Frequently Asked Questions about "Master's Thesis: Processing of English Past Tense"

What is the main topic of this master's thesis?

This master's thesis investigates the processing of regular and irregular past tense forms in English, focusing on how conflicting cues influence this process. It explores the debate between single-route and dual-route models of past tense processing.

What methodology is used in the study?

The study employs a masked priming paradigm with a lexical decision task. Participants' response times to target words are measured after being presented with a masked prime word. This setup allows for the examination of the effects of morphological and form-related primes on word recognition.

What are the key theoretical concepts explored?

The thesis delves into key concepts such as the mental lexicon, models of visual word recognition (interactive activation and dual-route cascaded models), and inflectional morphology in English. It critically reviews existing literature on past tense processing, highlighting inconsistencies and gaps in current understanding.

What are the main objectives of the research?

The main objectives are to investigate: 1) the processing of regular and irregular past tense forms; 2) the role of morphological and form-related primes in visual word recognition; 3) the evaluation of single-route versus dual-route models; 4) the impact of masked priming on lexical access; and 5) the analysis of response times in a lexical decision task.

What are the key findings of the study (in general terms)?

The results chapter (Chapter 4) presents a detailed analysis of quantitative data, including response times and accuracy rates. The discussion chapter (Chapter 5) interprets these findings in the context of the theoretical framework and existing research, examining their implications for the single-route versus dual-route debate.

What are the limitations of the study?

The discussion chapter acknowledges limitations of the present study and suggests directions for future research to further investigate the complex issues explored.

What is the structure of the thesis?

The thesis is structured into seven chapters: Introduction, Theory, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and References. An Appendix is also included.

What are the key words associated with this thesis?

Key words include: English past tense, visual word recognition, masked priming, lexical decision task, mental lexicon, inflectional morphology, single-route model, dual-route model, response times, morphological priming, and form priming.

Where can I find more detailed information about the study's design and results?

The thesis itself provides detailed information on the experimental design, methodology, data analysis, and results in Chapters 3 and 4 respectively.

What is the significance of this research?

This research contributes to the ongoing debate surrounding the processing of the English past tense, providing additional data and insights into this complex linguistic phenomenon.