SIGNAL-DETECTION COMPARISONS OF PHONEMIC AND PHONETIC PRIMING - THE FLEXIBLE-BIAS PROBLEM

The phonemic priming effect may reflect the hidden dynamics of spoken word perception and has thus been a key topic of recent research. This investigation compared phonemic and phonetic priming (cf. Goldinger, Luce, Pisoni, & Marcario, 1992), using signal detection methods. Altho ugh these methods were intended to provide separate indices of sensiti vity and bias changes, the results were more complex. Instead, phonemi c priming engendered a flexible, trial-specific strategy that affected hits and false alarms land thereby altered sensitivity) but also crea ted behavioral changes indicative of a bias. Together with previous re search, the results suggest that phonemic priming data must be interpr eted with caution, and they underscore the limitations of signal detec tion analyses in priming research (Norris, 1995). However, if a resear cher can anticipate the Likely form a bias will assume, signal detecti on methods can reveal priming effects.