City Research Online

Abstract

The work reported in this thesis was concerned with the specification of the organisation of semantic information for which no a priori hierarchy Was apparent. An overall objective was to test the validity of a proposed ordering for a set of semantic distinctions. If confirmation were achieved, then the organisation of other parts of the internal lexicon might be similarly deduced.

The first of a set of four studies tested the hypothesis that three semantic distinctions might be organised according to the age at which they were first acquired. The hypothesis was only partially supported by the results. One confounding variable was found to be the operation of specific word effects. Individual differences in the salience of the distinctions was also a possible confounding factor.

The second study tested the use of Repertory Grid Technique as a means of obtaining subject-generated semantic distinctions of assured salience. Examination of the completed grids and of cluster analysis of the data suggested that the technique's novel use in a non-clinical
setting was viable. In the third set of studies, the notion that the grids provided information about basic semantic memory structure was tested in two verbal learning experiments and received strong support from the first of these.

The final study compared the salience of self-generated semantic distinctions (obtained through grid completion) with that of the three distinctions used in the first study. Self-generated distinctions were found to be of greater salience in determining episodic memory performance which indicated that individual differences in salience might have confounded the validation of the proposed ordering of the distinctions.

The present studies provided some support for the proposed ordering for the set of distinctions, but it was concluded that it did not adequately account for the complexities of adult semantic memory structure. Some proposals for future research in which the structure could be elucidated further were considered.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	P Language and Literature P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
Departments:	School of Policy & Global Affairs > European Social Survey School of Communication & Creativity School of Communication & Creativity > School of Communication & Creativity Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

Export

Downloads