An Investigation into the Effects of Word Priming and Time on Nonconscious Goal Activation

Abstract

The current study investigated the effect of nonconscious priming techniques on participant’s conscious behaviour; Such as willingness to be more or less helpful in a linguistic task. The experimenters conducted two separate experiments; experiment 1 involved priming participants through embedding target words in a short story. Experiment 2 involved participants completing a seemingly unrelated word search (priming task) then reading a neutral story under a time constraint (3 or 10 minutes). In both experiments participants were expected to read the story given to them and re-tell as much of it as possible via typing on a computer. In experiment 1 we manipulated priming condition (unhelpful, neutral or helpful) so that they would behave in a particular manner when typing up their version of the story. Experiment 2 was different in that participants were put in either the unhelpful or helpful word search conditions. Participants were further separated into 3 minute or 10 minute times constrain groups. Both experiments were interested on the effects the priming had on word count and average rating score (story quality). Experiment 2 was additionally interested in the effect time would have on the effects of priming. Experiment 1 yielded a significant effect of priming on participant’s story quality; Helpful participants were produced significantly better stories than unhelpful participants. In experiment 2 there was a significant effect of time on word count and average rating score. However, the effects of priming were non-significant and therefore experiment 2 was unable to investigate the effects of time on priming. Future researcher should aim to correct the methodological issues in both experiments in order to meaningfully investigate the hypothesis.