Orthographic precision for word naming in skilled readers

Perfetti (2007) proposed that the quality of lexical representations affects reading. We investigated the role of lexical quality in decoding. Eighty-four adults read aloud words and pseudowords with dense and sparse neighbourhoods in a masked form-priming experiment. Individual-difference measures of language and cognitive processes were collected and entered into a principal component analysis (PCA). Compared to a non-overlapping control prime, we observed greater facilitatory form-priming for word targets with sparse neighbourhoods than those with dense neighbourhoods. A PCA component related to orthographic precision affected form-priming: people with low orthographic precision showed greater facilitation for words with sparse neighbourhoods, primed by pseudowords, than those with dense neighbourhoods. People with high orthographic precision demonstrated the converse, only when primed by words. For pseudoword reading, word primes facilitated more than pseudoword primes in people with low orthographic precision. People with high orthographic precision showed the opposite pattern.

Automated summary

Perfetti (2007) proposed that the quality of lexical representations affects reading. In this study, the role of lexical quality in decoding was investigated. The results showed that word targets with sparse neighborhoods were more facilitated by form priming compared to those with dense neighborhoods. The level of orthographic precision influenced this form priming effect, with individuals with low orthographic precision showing greater facilitation for words with sparse neighborhoods when primed by pseudowords. Pseudoword reading was also influenced by orthographic precision, as word primes facilitated more than pseudoword primes in individuals with low orthographic precision, while the opposite pattern was observed in individuals with high orthographic precision.