Overt/Covert Pronunciation and Rehearsal in Verbal-Discrimination Learning

Abstract

The frequency theory of verbal-discrimination learning holds that subjects discriminate the right item from the wrong item of a pair on the basis of the differential subjective experience of the frequency of the two items (Ekstrand, Wallace, and Underwood, 1966). Ekstrand et al. assumed, as a working hypothesis, that qualitative differences do not exist in the sources of frequency units (that is, in representational responses, pronunciational responses, or rehearsals of the correct responses) with regard to their contribution to the differential-frequency cue. The present study explored the additional assumption, implicit in the literature, that differences do not exist in the saliency of a frequency unit as a function of whether the subject's mode of response for a pronunciation or a rehearsal response is covert or overt. In the typical anticipation method, the subject indicates his selection during the anticipation interval by pronouncing aloud the item he has chosen. In the feedback interval, the pair reappears with the correct item underlined. Frequency theory assumes that the subject then covertly rehearses this 'right' item at least once during the feedback interval. Some studies (Ekstrand et al., 1966), however, have used a procedure whereby the overt pronunciation is eliminated; others (Kausler and Sardello, 1967) have required an overt rehearsal. Whether a covert pronunciation results in the same increment to the frequency cue as an overt one, and whether a covert rehearsal equals an overt one, has not been determined. The present study was directed toward these questions as well to the matter of whether overt/covert pronunciations produce the same effects as overt/covert rehearsals. A free-recall measure