Evaluative Meaning as a Determinant of Spew Positions

Margaret W. Matlin State University of New York at Geneseo, USA; American Psychological Association; University of Illinois, USA; Queens College, City University of New York, USA; Control Data Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, USA

David J. Stang State University of New York at Geneseo, USA; American Psychological Association; University of Illinois, USA; Queens College, City University of New York, USA; Control Data Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, USA

Valerie J. Gawron State University of New York at Geneseo, USA; American Psychological Association; University of Illinois, USA; Queens College, City University of New York, USA; Control Data Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, USA

Alan Freedman State University of New York at Geneseo, USA; American Psychological Association; University of Illinois, USA; Queens College, City University of New York, USA; Control Data Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, USA

Paul L. Derby State University of New York at Geneseo, USA; American Psychological Association; University of Illinois, USA; Queens College, City University of New York, USA; Control Data Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, USA

Summary

A series of three experiments with male and female undergraduates demonstrated a relationship between evaluative meaning and spew position. In Experiment 1, 57 Ss listed 20 pairs of adjectives. They showed a significant tendency to list the pleasant member of each pair first; word frequency, on the other hand, was unrelated to spew position. In Experiment 2, 41 Ss constructed separate lists of items in four categories. Evaluative rating and word frequency were both significant determinants of recall order. In Experiment 3, 36 Ss listed the names of professors from whom they had taken courses during the previous year. Once again, evaluation was a significant determinant of recall order. The results are consistent with the Pollyanna Principle, which states that pleasant information is processed more rapidly and more accurately than unpleasant information.

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