G2) Visual word recognition as a function of mental condition

Tasks:

• Carry out the lexical decision experiment under http://www.intro2psycholing.net/experiments/visual/word_nonword/wnw_index.php at two different times: once when you feel wide awake and fit and at another time when you feel extremely tired and worn out (e.g. just after waking up or before falling asleep). Note down the results the program provides.
• Get as many other persons as possible to do the same for you.
• Compare the results to see whether mental states have an influence on the speed and accuracy of written word recognition.

Notes:

• If you do not get the expected results, a reason may be that reaction time experiments are subject to many distorting factors.
• Which problems did you notice with the experiment? What could an experimenter do to prevent these from arising and to obtain undistorted results?

Source:

Companion website of: Warren, Paul (2013) Introducing Psycholinguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. http://www.intro2psycholing.net/index.php