The Experimental Research On Serial Effect Of "Flowing" Word Association Process

The research was designed to explore: (1) The effect of demand strictness on the associative reaction time and group commonness in the associative task of flowing words stimulus lists; (2) Group difference for pairs of common used synonyms with two Chinese characters in semantic discrimination task; (3) The serial effect of associative process.32 subjects participated in the experiment. The result is below.Firstly, Strictness of the associative demand for flowing words stimulus lists affects the associative reaction time and the commonness significantly. Associative reaction time increases when demand strictness strengthens, and it shows clear gender differences and background differences between arts and sciences. Number of associative words and individual reaction words decrease with the strengthening of demand strictness, while the maximum associative word within one-group increases. Female students demonstrate comparatively higher group consistency than male students, in a similar way to how science students and liberal arts students perform.Secondly, there is no background between arts and sciences or gender difference on accuracy of semantic judgment for pairs of synonyms; more time is needed for male than female on semantic discrimination.Thirdly, Contrast and delay time of presentation on the photographic stimulus affects associative process; Associative reaction time decreases with the strengthening of contrast and shortening of delay time, it shows clear gender differences and background differences between arts and sciences.Finally, the position of derivative Chinese characters has no marked effect on association of flowing words stimulus lists.