Perceptual effects of linguistic category priming: the Stapel and Semin (2007) paradigm revisited in twelve experiments.

Linguistic category priming is a novel paradigm to examine automatic influences of language on cognition (Semin, 2008). An initial article reported that priming abstract linguistic categories (adjectives) led to more global perceptual processing, whereas priming concrete linguistic categories (verbs) led to more local perceptual processing (Stapel & Semin, 2007). However, this report was compromised by data fabrication by the first author, so that it remains unclear whether or not linguistic category priming influences perceptual processing. To fill this gap in the literature, the present article reports 12 studies among Dutch and US samples examining the perceptual effects of linguistic category priming. The results yielded no evidence of linguistic category priming effects. These findings are discussed in relation to other research showing cultural variations in linguistic category priming effects (IJzerman, Saddlemyer, & Koole, 2014). The authors conclude by highlighting the importance of conducting and publishing replication research for achieving scientific progress.

The groove move: action affordances produce fluency and positive affect.

In two experiments we show that the experience of processing fluency can be grounded in the motor system. We manipulated whether responses in a stimulus-response paradigm were congruent or incongruent with the orientation of graspable objects. Besides the typical affordance effect (Tucker & Ellis, 1998), namely a reaction time advantage for responses made with the hand for which it would be easier to grasp the object, our results reveal that such a visuo-motor congruence elicits positive affect when preceded by incongruent trials (Experiment 1). Experiment 2 demonstrates that individuals are aware of this fluency experience and can consciously report on it. Moreover, by manipulating the task contingencies, we show that the affordance effect itself can be modulated by the experience of processing fluency. Our results are in line with theories assuming a direct coupling between perception and action (Hommel, Müsseler, Aschersleben, & Prinz, 2001; Prinz, 1997; Smith & Semin, 2004).