Herbert Gerjuoy

Association test antonym-response set

Groups of S s were given 54 Kent-Rosanoff-list words in one of three different orders, with one of two different instructions, and with one of two different test formats. Instructions to give the responses that most people give increased non-antonym popular-response frequencies, particularly when a multiple-choice format was used instead of an open-ended format. When words that frequently elecit antonyms were presented early or were rectangularly distributed through the list, more popular-antonym responses were elicited than when such words were generally late in the list. It was suggested that antonym set reduces conceptual effort.

Preliminary word-association norms for institutionalized adolescent retardates

One hundred institutionalized adolescent educable retardates gave oral free-association responses to the 100 words of the Kent-Rosanoff list presented in an order that was expected to minimize antonym response set. Their responses were tabulated to provide preliminary word-association norms for this subject population.

Binary-choice sequences of retardates, normal children, and college students under random- and pattern-set instructions

In twenty nonreinforced binary choices, adolescent retardates, normal children, and college students gave no more alternations when instructed to respond randomly than when instructed to respond with a simple pattern. These results imply that alternation above chance is due to something other than preconceptions about the nature of random sequences.