These stimuli were used in the following experiment:

GERNSBACHER, M. A., ROBERTSON, R. R. W., & WERNER, N. K. (2000). The costs and benefits of meaning. In D. S. Gorfein’s (Ed.) On the consequences of meaning selection. APA Books, Washington, D.C. [view PDF]

Same: prime has same meaning as target.

Diff: prime has different meaning as target.

Non: primed with no meaning.

Dom: target has dominant meaning.

Sub: target has subordinate meaning.

 

EXPERIMENTAL ITEMS:

1. Same-Dom
She thought the razor looked sharp.
She made sure her pencil was sharp.
Same-Sub
She was eighty and still sharp.
She had always been very sharp.
Diff-Dom
She was eighty and still sharp.
She made sure her pencil was sharp.
Diff-Sub
She thought the razor looked sharp.
She had always been very sharp.
Non-Dom
She smelled the sharp.
She made sure her pencil was sharp.
Non-Sub
She smelled the sharp.
She had always been very sharp.

2. Same-Dom
She opened her palm.
She read her palm.
Same-Sub
She watered the palm.
She chopped down the palm.
Diff-Dom
She watered the palm.
She read her palm.
Diff-Sub
She opened her palm.
She chopped down the palm.
Non-Dom
She raced the palm.
She read her palm.
Non-Sub
She raced the palm.
She chopped down the palm.

3. Same-Dom
She closed the bank.
She locked the bank.
Same-Sub
She skipped rocks from the bank.
She relaxed on the bank.
Diff-Dom
She skipped rocks from the bank.
She locked the bank.
Diff-Sub
She closed the bank.
She relaxed on the bank.
Non-Dom
She danced the bank.
She locked the bank.
Non-Sub
She danced the bank.
She relaxed on the bank.

4. Same-Dom
She interviewed the boxers.
She applauded the boxers.
Same-Sub
She folded the boxers.
She wrapped up the boxers.
Diff-Dom
She folded the boxers.
She applauded the boxers.
Diff-Sub
She interviewed the boxers.
She wrapped up the boxers.
Non-Dom
She inhaled the boxers.
She applauded the boxers.
Non-Sub
She inhaled the boxers.
She wrapped up the boxers.

5. Same-Dom
She cleaned the cabinet.
She closed the cabinet.
Same-Sub
She appointed the cabinet.
She consulted with the cabinet.
Diff-Dom
She appointed the cabinet.
She closed the cabinet.
Diff-Sub
She cleaned the cabinet.
She consulted with the cabinet.
Non-Dom
She yielded the cabinet.
She closed the cabinet.
Non-Sub
She yielded the cabinet.
She consulted with the cabinet.

6. Same-Dom
She plugged in the drill.
She turned on the drill.
Same-Sub
She learned the drill.
She completed the drill.
Diff-Dom
She learned the drill.
She turned on the drill.
Diff-Sub
She plugged in the drill.
She completed the drill.
Non-Dom
She tricked the drill.
She turned on the drill.
Non-Sub
She tricked the drill.
She completed the drill.

7. Same-Dom
She thought the vitamin tasted bitter.
She made the coffee too bitter.
Same-Sub
She slowly became bitter.
She always remained bitter.
Diff-Dom
She slowly became bitter.
She made the coffee too bitter.
Diff-Sub
She thought the vitamin tasted bitter.
She always remained bitter.
Non-Dom
She mourned the bitter.
She made the coffee too bitter.
Non-Sub
She mourned the bitter.
She always remained bitter.

8. Same-Dom
She won a ribbon for her calf.
She fed her calf.
Same-Sub
She stretched her calf.
She flexed her calf.
Diff-Dom
She stretched her calf.
She fed her calf.
Diff-Sub
She won a ribbon for her calf.
She flexed her calf.
Non-Dom
She filed her calf.
She fed her calf.
Non-Sub
She filed her calf.
She flexed her calf.

9. Same-Dom
She heard the boom.
She was awakened by the boom.
Same-Sub
She bought more stock during the boom.
She became rich during the boom.
Diff-Dom
She bought more stock during the boom.
She was awakened by the boom.
Diff-Sub
She heard the boom.
She became rich during the boom.
Non-Dom
She served the boom.
She was awakened by the boom.
Non-Sub
She served the boom.
She became rich during the boom.

10. Same-Dom
She used the brush.
She washed the brush.
Same-Sub
She walked through the brush.
She cleared the brush.
Diff-Dom
She walked through the brush.
She washed the brush.
Diff-Sub
She used the brush.
She cleared the brush.
Non-Dom
She drove the brush.
She washed the brush.
Non-Sub
She drove the brush.
She cleared the brush.

11. Same-Dom
She developed a new interest.
She expressed an interest.
Same-Sub
She earned some interest.
She collected the interest.
Diff-Dom
She earned some interest.
She expressed an interest.
Diff-Sub
She developed a new interest.
She collected the interest.
Non-Dom
She digested her interest.
She expressed an interest.
Non-Sub
She digested her interest.
She collected the interest.

12. Same-Dom
She inflated the ball.
She tossed the ball.
Same-Sub
She attended the ball.
She chaperoned the ball.
Diff-Dom
She attended the ball.
She tossed the ball.
Diff-Sub
She inflated the ball.
She chaperoned the ball.
Non-Dom
She intoxicated the ball.
She tossed the ball.
Non-Sub
She intoxicated the ball.
She chaperoned the ball.

13. Same-Dom
She burned the toast.
She ate the toast.
Same-Sub
She proposed the toast.
She gave a speech during the toast.
Diff-Dom
She proposed the toast.
She ate the toast.
Diff-Sub
She burned the toast.
She gave a speech during the toast.
Non-Dom
She achieved the toast.
She ate the toast.
Non-Sub
She achieved the toast.
She gave a speech during the toast.

14. Same-Dom
She respected the coach.
She obeyed the coach.
Same-Sub
She stepped into the coach.
She drove the coach.
Diff-Dom
She stepped into the coach.
She obeyed the coach.
Diff-Sub
She respected the coach.
She drove the coach.
Non-Dom
She dissolved the coach.
She obeyed the coach.
Non-Sub
She dissolved the coach.
She drove the coach.

15. Same-Dom
She set a trap for the mole.
She was unable to catch the mole.
Same-Sub
She was self-conscious about the mole.
She used a laser to remove the mole.
Diff-Dom
She was self-conscious about the mole.
She was unable to catch the mole.
Diff-Sub
She set a trap for the mole.
She used a laser to remove the mole.
Non-Dom
She hummed the mole.
She was unable to catch the mole.
Non-Sub
She hummed the mole.
She used a laser to remove the mole.

16. Same-Dom
She addressed the letter.
She mailed the letter.
Same-Sub
She learned a new letter.
She recited the alphabet saying every letter.
Diff-Dom
She learned a new letter.
She mailed the letter.
Diff-Sub
She addressed the letter.
She recited the alphabet saying every letter.
Non-Dom
She unscrewed the letter.
She mailed the letter.
Non-Sub
She unscrewed the letter.
She recited the alphabet saying every letter.

17. Same-Dom
She found the underground passage.
She fit through the passage.
Same-Sub
She wrote the passage.
She recited the passage.
Diff-Dom
She wrote the passage.
She fit through the passage.
Diff-Sub
She found the underground passage.
She recited the passage.
Non-Dom
She buttered the passage.
She fit through the passage.
Non-Sub
She buttered the passage.
She recited the passage.

18. Same-Dom
She uncapped the pen.
She wrote with the pen.
Same-Sub
She lured the pig into the pen.
She closed the animals in the pen.
Diff-Dom
She lured the pig into the pen.
She wrote with the pen.
Diff-Sub
She uncapped the pen.
She closed the animals in the pen.
Non-Dom
She cooked the pen.
She wrote with the pen.
Non-Sub
She cooked the pen.
She closed the animals in the pen.

19. Same-Dom
She hired the pitcher.
She coached the pitcher.
Same-Sub
She filled the pitcher.
She cracked the pitcher.
Diff-Dom
She filled the pitcher.
She coached the pitcher.
Diff-Sub
She hired the pitcher.
She cracked the pitcher.
Non-Dom
She landscaped the pitcher.
She coached the pitcher.
Non-Sub
She landscaped the pitcher.
She cracked the pitcher.

20. Same-Dom
She fertilized the plant.
She pruned the plant.
Same-Sub
She assembled engines at the plant.
She manufactured cars at the plant.
Diff-Dom
She assembled engines at the plant.
She pruned the plant.
Diff-Sub
She fertilized the plant.
She manufactured cars at the plant.
Non-Dom
She arrested the plant.
She pruned the plant.
Non-Sub
She arrested the plant.
She manufactured cars at the plant.

21. Same-Dom
She made straight lines with the ruler.
She measured with the ruler.
Same-Sub
She opposed the ruler.
She assassinated the ruler.
Diff-Dom
She opposed the ruler.
She measured with the ruler.
Diff-Sub
She made straight lines with the ruler.
She assassinated the ruler.
Non-Dom
She computed the ruler.
She measured with the ruler.
Non-Sub
She computed the ruler.
She assassinated the ruler.

22. Same-Dom
She caged a seal.
She killed a seal.
Same-Sub
She designed a seal.
She marked her approval with a seal.
Diff-Dom
She designed a seal.
She killed a seal.
Diff-Sub
She caged a seal.
She marked her approval with a seal.
Non-Dom
She sang a seal.
She killed a seal.
Non-Sub
She sang a seal.
She marked her approval with a seal.

23. Same-Dom
She read the page.
She turned the page.
Same-Sub
She hired the page.
She trained the page.
Diff-Dom
She hired the page.
She turned the page.
Diff-Sub
She read the page.
She trained the page.
Non-Dom
She poached the page.
She turned the page.
Non-Sub
She poached the page.
She trained the page.

24. Same-Dom
She memorized the story.
She told the story.
Same-Sub
She climbed up the story.
She fell down the story.
Diff-Dom
She climbed up the story.
She told the story.
Diff-Sub
She memorized the story.
She fell down the story.
Non-Dom
She taxed the story.
She told the story.
Non-Sub
She taxed the story.
She fell down the story.

25. Same-Dom
She cut the board.
She stained the board.
Same-Sub
She spoke to the board.
She impressed the board.
Diff-Dom
She spoke to the board.
She stained the board.
Diff-Sub
She cut the board.
She impressed the board.
Non-Dom
She married the board.
She stained the board.
Non-Sub
She married the board.
She impressed the board.

26. Same-Dom
She stretched her arms.
She flexed her arms.
Same-Sub
She purchased the arms.
She fired the arms.
Diff-Dom
She purchased the arms.
She flexed her arms.
Diff-Sub
She stretched her arms.
She fired the arms.
Non-Dom
She giggled the arms.
She flexed her arms.
Non-Sub
She giggled the arms.
She fired the arms.

27. Same-Dom
She took a shower.
She sang in the shower.
Same-Sub
She was invited to the shower.
She made cookies for the shower.
Diff-Dom
She was invited to the shower.
She sang in the shower.
Diff-Sub
She took a shower.
She made cookies for the shower.
Non-Dom
She carved the shower.
She sang in the shower.
Non-Sub
She carved the shower.
She made cookies for the shower.

28. Same-Dom
She loved the smell of spring.
She couldn’t wait for spring.
Same-Sub
She could jump like a spring.
She replaced the spring.
Diff-Dom
She could jump like a spring.
She couldn’t wait for spring.
Diff-Sub
She loved the smell of spring.
She replaced the spring.
Non-Dom
She zipped the spring.
She couldn’t wait for spring.
Non-Sub
She zipped the spring.
She replaced the spring.

29. Same-Dom
She wrote the sentence.
She diagrammed the sentence.
Same-Sub
She was penalized with the sentence.
She served the sentence.
Diff-Dom
She was penalized with the sentence.
She diagrammed the sentence.
Diff-Sub
She wrote the sentence.
She served the sentence.
Non-Dom
She hurt the sentence.
She diagrammed the sentence.
Non-Sub
She hurt the sentence.
She served the sentence.

30. Same-Dom
She polished the ring.
She wore the ring.
Same-Sub
She heard the ring.
She was awakened by the ring.
Diff-Dom
She heard the ring.
She wore the ring.
Diff-Sub
She polished the ring.
She was awakened by the ring.
Non-Dom
She capitalized the ring.
She wore the ring.
Non-Sub
She capitalized the ring.
She was awakened by the ring.

31. Same-Dom
She saw a shooting star.
She wished upon a star.
Same-Sub
She wanted to be a star.
She married a star.
Diff-Dom
She wanted to be a star.
She wished upon a star.
Diff-Sub
She saw a shooting star.
She married a star.
Non-Dom
She bowled the star.
She wished upon a star.
Non-Sub
She bowled the star.
She married a star.

32. Same-Dom
She wiped off the table.
She polished the table.
Same-Sub
She looked up data in the table.
She studied the numbers in the table.
Diff-Dom
She looked up data in the table.
She polished the table
Diff-Sub
She wiped off the table.
She studied the numbers in the table.
Non-Dom
She impregnated the table.
She polished the table.
Non-Sub
She impregnated the table.
She studied the numbers in the table.

33. Same-Dom
She took three days to reach the top.
She planted a flag at the top.
Same-Sub
She played with the top.
She spun the top.
Diff-Dom
She played with the top.
She planted a flag at the top.
Diff-Sub
She took three days to reach the top.
She spun the top.
Non-Dom
She intruded the top.
She planted a flag at the top.
Non-Sub
She intruded the top.
She spun the top.

34. Same-Dom
She screwed in the bulb.
She turned on the bulb.
Same-Sub
She planted the bulb.
She watered the bulb.
Diff-Dom
She planted the bulb.
She turned on the bulb.
Diff-Sub
She screwed in the bulb.
She watered the bulb.
Non-Dom
She trusted the bulb.
She turned on the bulb.
Non-Sub
She trusted the bulb.
She watered the bulb.

35. Same-Dom
She tripped over the wire.
She buried the wire.
Same-Sub
She sent the wire.
She received the wire.
Diff-Dom
She sent the wire.
She buried the wire.
Diff-Sub
She tripped over the wire.
She received the wire.
Non-Dom
She sailed the wire.
She buried the wire.
Non-Sub
She sailed the wire.
She received the wire.

36. Same-Dom
She stretched before the game.
She won the game.
Same-Sub
She hunted the game.
She shot at the game.
Diff-Dom
She hunted the game.
She won the game.
Diff-Sub
She stretched before the game.
She shot at the game.
Non-Dom
She jogged the game.
She won the game.
Non-Sub
She jogged the game.
She shot at the game.

 

Fillers:

24 N/N

1. She forgave the beam.
She pitied the beam.

2. She proved the stern.
She yelled the stern.

3. She lived in a bolt.
She sailed a bolt.

4. She drifted the sound.
She tenderized the sound.

5. She walked a share.
She defended a share.

6. She drank the spot.
She boxed the spot.

7. She argued with the straw.
She locked with the straw.

8. She nodded the wind.
She stared the wind.

9. She stood the will.
She consoled the will.

10. She simplified the fresh.
She stampeded the fresh.

11. She framed the cape.
She grew the cape.

12. She collaborated the ace.
She stung the ace.

13. She accompanied the jar.
She swam the jar.

14. She starved the sign.
She played the sign.

15. She tamed a picket.
She read a picket.

16. She distracted the speed.
She hugged the speed.

17. She spoke the cell.
She astonished the cell.

18. She bewildered the sty.
She whispered the sty.

19. She woke the case.
She soared the case.

20. She shivered the mass.
She thought the mass.

21. She swam the dates.
She furnished the dates.

22. She debated the deck.
She prepared for the deck.

23. She wrote the bow.
She poured the bow.

24. She tasted the note.
She lived the note.

12 N/Y

1. She quartered the wake.
She attended the wake.

2. She swam the order.
She gave the order.

3. She telephoned the stick.
She picked up the stick.

4. She argued one foot.
She stood on one foot.

5. She sanded the change.
She counted the change.

6. She manicured the hatch.
She lowered the hatch.

7. She crimped a break.
She took a break.

8. She strangled the iron.
She plugged in the iron.

9. She angled a blunt.
She was known to be blunt.

10. She rode the grace.
She said the grace.

11. She laminated the spade.
She picked up the spade.

12. She embarrassed the draft.
She felt the draft.

 

24 Y/N

1. She washed the china.
She humiliated the china.

2. She played squash.
She sang squash.

3. She sat by the well.
She translated the well.

4. She prayed at her temple.
She shuffled the temple.

5. She picked up her racket.
She defeated her racket.

6. She tanned the hide.
She flew the hide.

7. She opened the door with the key.
She respected with the key.

8. She voted on the bill.
She asked the bill.

9. She thought she heard a bark.
She notified the bark.

10. She pounded in the post.
She impressed the post.

11. She was lean.
She recorded lean.

12. She climbed on the bluff.
She clapped the bluff.

13. She was quite a ham.
She dove a ham.

14. She tasted the mint.
She proposed to the mint.

15. She was a big fan.
She concluded the fan.

16. She wore a habit.
She drove a habit.

17. She swam in the pool.
She stayed the pool.

18. She learned the trade.
She shivered the trade.

19. She sold the yarn.
She squatted the yarn.

20. She wrapped the present.
She exclaimed the present.

21. She defended against the punch.
She visited the punch.

22. She played the organ.
She threw to the organ.

23. She ate the jam.
She galloped the jam.

24. She joined the club.
She whispered the club.