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]

Starred sentences (*) were altered from Experiment 5

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.

Experimentals

01. Same-Dom
*She thought the metal looked sharp.
*She made sure the point 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 the point was sharp.
Diff-Sub
*She thought the metal looked sharp.
She had always been very sharp.
Non-Dom
She smelled the sharp.
*She made sure the point was sharp.
Non-Sub
She smelled the sharp.
She had always been very sharp.

02. Same-Dom
*She held open her palm.
*She read his palm.
Same-Sub
*She enjoyed the shade of the palm.
*She lounged under the palm.
Diff-Dom
*She enjoyed the shade of the palm.
*She read his palm.
Diff-Sub
*She held open her palm.
*She lounged under the palm.
Non-Dom
She raced the palm.
*She read his palm.
Non-Sub
She raced the palm.
*She lounged under the palm.

03. Same-Dom
She closed the bank.
She locked the bank.
Same-Sub
She skipped rocks from the bank.
*She fished from the bank.
Diff-Dom
She skipped rocks from the bank.
She locked the bank.
Diff-Sub
She closed the bank.
*She fished from the bank.
Non-Dom
She danced the bank.
She locked the bank.
Non-Sub
She danced the bank.
*She fished from the bank.

04. Same-Dom
She interviewed the boxers.
She applauded the boxers.
Same-Sub
*She thought he looked good in boxers.
*She bought him a pair of boxers.
Diff-Dom
*She thought he looked good in boxers.
She applauded the boxers.
Diff-Sub
She interviewed the boxers.
*She bought him a pair of boxers.
Non-Dom
She inhaled the boxers.
She applauded the boxers.
Non-Sub
She inhaled the boxers.
*She bought him a pair of boxers.

05. Same-Dom
*She stocked the cabinet.
*She looked inside the cabinet.
Same-Sub
*She was appointed to the cabinet.
*She was a member of the cabinet.
Diff-Dom
*She was appointed to the cabinet.
*She looked inside the cabinet.
Diff-Sub
*She stocked the cabinet.
*She was a member of the cabinet.
Non-Dom
She yielded the cabinet.
*She looked inside the cabinet.
Non-Sub
She yielded the cabinet.
*She was a member of the cabinet.

06. Same-Dom
She plugged in the drill.
She turned on the drill.
Same-Sub
*She used her whistle to start the drill.
*She marched during the drill.
Diff-Dom
*She used her whistle to start the drill.
She turned on the drill.
Diff-Sub
She plugged in the drill.
*She marched during the drill.
Non-Dom
She tricked the drill.
She turned on the drill.
Non-Sub
She tricked the drill.
*She marched during the drill..

07. 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.

08. 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.

09. Same-Dom
She heard the boom.
She was awakened by the boom.
Same-Sub
*She had a baby during the boom.
*She was born during the boom.
Diff-Dom
*She had a baby during the boom.
She was awakened by the boom.
Diff-Sub
She heard the boom.
*She was born during the boom.
Non-Dom
She served the boom.
She was awakened by the boom.
Non-Sub
She served the boom.
*She was born during the boom.

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

11. Same-Dom
*She needed a new interest.
*She held an interest.
Same-Sub
*She let her money earn interest..
*She paid taxes on the interest..
Diff-Dom
*She let her money earn interest..
*She held an interest.
Diff-Sub
*She needed a new interest.
*She paid taxes on the interest.
Non-Dom
She digested her interest.
*She held an interest.
Non-Sub
She digested her interest.
*She paid taxes on the interest.

12. Same-Dom
*She repaired the ball.
*She hid the ball.
Same-Sub
She attended the ball.
She chaperoned the ball.
Diff-Dom
She attended the ball.
*She hid the ball.
Diff-Sub
*She repaired the ball.
She chaperoned the ball.
Non-Dom
She intoxicated the ball.
*She hid the ball.
Non-Sub
She intoxicated the ball.
She chaperoned the ball.

13. Same-Dom
*She cut the toast.
*She dropped the toast.
Same-Sub
*She filled everyone’s champagne glass before the toast
She proposed the toast.
Diff-Dom
She filled everyone’s champagne glass before the toast.
*She dropped the toast.
Diff-Sub
*She cut the toast.
She proposed the toast.
Non-Dom
She achieved the toast.
*She dropped the toast.
Non-Sub
She achieved the toast.
She proposed the toast.

14. Same-Dom
*She used to respect the coach.
*She had always wanted to be the coach.
Same-Sub
*She turned the pumpkin into a coach.
*She dropped her glass slipper from the coach.
Diff-Dom
*She turned the pumpkin into a coach.
*She had always wanted to be the coach.
Diff-Sub
*She used to respect the coach.
*She dropped her glass slipper from the coach.
Non-Dom
She dissolved the coach.
*She had always wanted to be the coach.
Non-Sub
She dissolved the coach.
*She dropped her glass slipper from 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 delivered the letter.
*She opened the letter.
Same-Sub
*She recited the alphabet saying every letter.
*She capitalized the letter.
Diff-Dom
*She recited the alphabet saying every letter.
*She opened the letter.
Diff-Sub
*She delivered the letter.
*She capitalized the letter.
Non-Dom
She unscrewed the letter.
*She opened the letter.
Non-Sub
She unscrewed the letter.
*She capitalized the letter.

17. Same-Dom
*She walked through the 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 walked through the 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 picked up the pen.
*She held the pen.
Same-Sub
She lured the pig into the pen.
*She poured slop into the pen.
Diff-Dom
She lured the pig into the pen.
*She held the pen.
Diff-Sub
*She picked up the pen.
*She poured slop into the pen.
Non-Dom
She cooked the pen.
*She held the pen.
Non-Sub
She cooked the pen.
*She poured slop into the pen.

19. Same-Dom
She hired the pitcher.
*She yelled at the pitcher.
Same-Sub
She filled the pitcher.
*She poured from the pitcher.
Diff-Dom
She filled the pitcher.
*She yelled at the pitcher.
Diff-Sub
She hired the pitcher.
*She poured from the pitcher.
Non-Dom
She landscaped the pitcher.
*She yelled at the pitcher.
Non-Sub
She landscaped the pitcher.
*She poured from the pitcher.

20. Same-Dom
*She carefully cut the plant.
*She wanted to prune the plant.
Same-Sub
*She worked summers at the plant.
She manufactured cars at the plant.
Diff-Dom
*She worked summers at the plant.
*She wanted to prune the plant.
Diff-Sub
*She carefully cut the plant.
She manufactured cars at the plant.
Non-Dom
She arrested the plant.
*She wanted to prune the plant.
Non-Sub
She arrested the plant.
She manufactured cars at the plant.

21. Same-Dom
*She bought a new ruler.
*She often used the ruler.
Same-Sub
*She hated the tyranny of the ruler.
*She conspired to overthrow the ruler.
Diff-Dom
*She hated the tyranny of the ruler.
*She often used the ruler.
Diff-Sub
*She bought a new ruler.
*She conspired to overthrow the ruler.
Non-Dom
She computed the ruler.
*She often used the ruler.
Non-Sub
She computed the ruler.
*She conspired to overthrow the ruler.

22. Same-Dom
She caged a seal.
*She gently petted a seal.
Same-Sub
*She melted wax to make a seal.
*She closed the envelope with a seal.
Diff-Dom
*She melted wax to make a seal.
*She gently petted a seal.
Diff-Sub
She caged a seal.
*She closed the envelope with a seal.
Non-Dom
She sang a seal.
*She gently petted a seal.
Non-Sub
She sang a seal.
*She closed the envelope with a seal.

23. Same-Dom
*She picked up the note.
*She put down the note.
Same-Sub
*She played the note.
*She heard the note.
Diff-Dom
*She played the note.
*She put down the note.
Diff-Sub
*She picked up the note.
*She heard the note.
Non-Dom
*She lived the note.
*She put down the note.
Non-Sub
*She lived the note.
*She heard the note.

24. Same-Dom
*She liked the story.
*She believed the story.
Same-Sub
*She lived on the tenth story.
*She fell from the tenth story.
Diff-Dom
*She lived on the tenth story.
*She believed the story.
Diff-Sub
*She liked the story.
*She fell from the tenth story.
Non-Dom
She taxed the story.
*She believed the story.
Non-Sub
She taxed the story.
*She fell from the tenth story.

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

26. Same-Dom
*She slowly raised her arms.
*She quickly tensed her arms.
Same-Sub
*She was against nuclear arms.
*She had a right to bear arms.
Diff-Dom
*She was against nuclear arms.
*She quickly tensed her arms.
Diff-Sub
*She slowly raised her arms.
*She had a right to bear arms.
Non-Dom
She giggled the arms.
*She quickly tensed her arms.
Non-Sub
She giggled the arms.
*She had a right to bear arms.

27. Same-Dom
*She turned on the shower.
*She relaxed in the shower.
Same-Sub
She was invited to the shower.
*She threw a surprise shower.
Diff-Dom
She was invited to the shower.
*She relaxed in the shower.
Diff-Sub
*She turned on the shower.
*She threw a surprise shower.
Non-Dom
She carved the shower.
*She relaxed in the shower.
Non-Sub
She carved the shower.
*She threw a surprise shower.

28. Same-Dom
*She loved spring.
*She waited for spring.
Same-Sub
*She broke the spring.
She replaced the spring.
Diff-Dom
*She broke the spring.
*She waited for spring.
Diff-Sub
*She loved spring.
She replaced the spring.
Non-Dom
She zipped the spring.
*She waited for spring.
Non-Sub
She zipped the spring.
She replaced the spring.

29. Same-Dom
*She translated the sentence.
She diagrammed the sentence.
Same-Sub
*She received a lighter sentence.
*She was free after serving her sentence.
Diff-Dom
*She received a lighter sentence.
She diagrammed the sentence.
Diff-Sub
*She translated the sentence.
*She was free after serving her sentence.
Non-Dom
She hurt the sentence.
She diagrammed the sentence.
Non-Sub
She hurt the sentence.
*She was free after serving her sentence.

30. Same-Dom
*She dropped the ring.
*She returned the ring.
Same-Sub
She heard the ring.
*She ignored the loud ring.
Diff-Dom
She heard the ring.
*She returned the ring.
Diff-Sub
*She dropped the ring.
*She ignored the loud ring.
Non-Dom
She capitalized the ring.
*She returned the ring.
Non-Sub
She capitalized the ring.
*She ignored the loud ring.

31. Same-Dom
*She charted a star.
*She drew a star.
Same-Sub
She wanted to be a star.
*She hoped to be a star.
Diff-Dom
She wanted to be a star.
*She drew a star.
Diff-Sub
*She charted a star.
*She hoped to be a star.
Non-Dom
She bowled the star.
*She drew a star.
Non-Sub
She bowled the star.
*She hoped to be a star.

32. Same-Dom
*She sat on the table.
*She pushed the table.
Same-Sub
*She looked up the data in the table.
She studied the numbers in the table.
Diff-Dom
*She looked up the data in the table.
*She pushed the table.
Diff-Sub
*She sat on the table.
She studied the numbers in the table.
Non-Dom
She impregnated the table.
*She pushed the table.
Non-Sub
She impregnated the table.
She studied the numbers in the table.

33. Same-Dom
*She reached the top.
She planted a flag at the top.
Same-Sub
*She wound up the top.
She spun the top.
Diff-Dom
*She wound up the top.
She planted a flag at the top.
Diff-Sub
*She reached 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 changed the bulb.
She turned on the bulb.
Same-Sub
*She gently placed dirt around the bulb.
*She potted the bulb.
Diff-Dom
*She gently placed dirt around the bulb.
She turned on the bulb.
Diff-Sub
*She changed the bulb.
*She potted the bulb.
Non-Dom
She trusted the bulb.
She turned on the bulb.
Non-Sub
She trusted the bulb.
*She potted the bulb.

35. Same-Dom
*She held out the wire.
She buried the wire.
Same-Sub
*She sent the money by wire.
*She received the money by wire.
Diff-Dom
*She sent the money by wire.
She buried the wire.
Diff-Sub
*She held out the wire.
*She received the money by wire.
Non-Dom
She sailed the wire.
She buried the wire.
Non-Sub
She sailed the wire.
*She received the money by wire.

36. Same-Dom
*She went to the game.
*She cancelled the game.
Same-Sub
*She hunted the wild game.
*She shot the wild game.
Diff-Dom
*She hunted the wild game.
*She cancelled the game..
Diff-Sub
*She went to the game.
*She shot the wild game.
Non-Dom
She jogged the game.
*She cancelled the game.
Non-Sub

She jogged the game.

*She shot the wild 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.