The role of task demands on memory and naming RTs in a totally transparent orthography.

The role of orthographic transparency on cognitive processes involved in reading has been debated for nearly three decades. Emerging evidence suggests that such processes may be universal to human cognition (e.g. Baluch & Danaye-Tousie, 2006; Raman, Baluch & Besner, 2004). The aim in the present study is to examine the role of task instruction on reading performance and memory in reading a totally transparent orthography, namely Turkish. Previous research in Turkish has shown that reading in a transparent orthography is under the strategic control of readers when task demands are manipulated (Raman et al, 2004) ; as well as a robust frequency effect (Raman, Baluch & Sneddon, 1996; Raman et al 2004). We report a series of three experiments whereby the role of task demand is explored on memory and naming of transparent Turkish words. Findings will be discussed in view of Baluch and Danaye-Tousie’s (2006) report on Farsi.

An abstract to this work subsequently appeared in International Journal of Psychology (ISSN: 0020-7594), Jun-Aug2008, Vol. 43 Issue 3/4 p332.