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| University of
Glasgow
Department of Psychology |
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| University of
Glasgow
Department of Psychology |
Some results
German data pattern are different from English ones. From some experiments it appears that German native speakers tested in German show different response latencies in some conditions (Glanzmann, 1981; Kron, 1987). There is no stringent evidence for this statement yet because too many factors varied between experimental designs but if one contrasts the data of the Clark and Chase (1972) study and Glanzmann’s study (1981) using German native speakers it becomes obvious that there are differences. Both experiments presented pictures first and used the predicates "above"/"über" and "below"/"unter", thus being at least similar enough in their structure to allow a comparison of the data pattern. From the above mentioned experiments (Clark & Chase, 1972; Glanzmann, 1981; Kron, 1987) it appears that German native speakers respond differently when the predicates "below"/"unter" are used but similar when the predicates "above"/"über" are used. For "above"/"über" predicates there may be a difference under the condition TN with German speakers reacting faster than English speakers. However, there are three possibilities what this can mean. It may represent a difference in processing, an artefact or the influence of a confounded variable, e.g. the use of different strategies (Roberts, Wood & Gilmore, 1994). Thus it is not enough evidence to make a particular prediction based solely on this finding.
(c) Dirk Köster; first posted January 06/01
last modified January 06/01