Strategical invariance in lexical access: The reappearance of the pseudohomophone effect

Examined the relationship between the presence of homophones and the appearance of the pseudohomophone effect, using 26 undergraduates. Ss were exposed to 10 pseudohomonyms, 10 nonwords, and 20 homophonic words or 20 nonhomophonic words in the 1st trial and to 15 pseudohomophones, 15 nonwords, and 30 nonhomophonic words during the 2nd trial. Ss' reaction time (RT) to a lexical decision task was recorded. Ss exposed to homophonic words during the 1st trial showed greater RT for decisions on pseudohomophones (pseudohomophone effect). Results support the conclusion of I. Dennis et al (1985) that the presence of homophones encourages a strategy of lexical decision making that changes the use made of phonological evidence.