The word-superiority effect does not require a T-scope

Six experiments examined the possibility ofobtaining a word-superinrity effect-~WSE)without the use of brief stimulus exposures or a poststimulus mask. In each experiment, subjects were presented a stimulus string and two alternative strings that differed by a single letter (Reicher, 1969). The alternatives and stimulus remained inview until subjecta responded, and subjects were under no pressure to respond quickly. In Experiments 1-3, the stimuli were presented in very small type so that they were difficultto see. Subjectswere significantly more accurate withwords than with nonwords, letters embedded among digits, or letters embedded among number signs (#s). In Experiments 4 and 5, the stimuliwere embedded in a simultaneously presentpattern-mask. Subjectswere significantly more accurate with words than with single letters by themselves. In the final experiment, the stimuli were presented in a mask ithape apatiaLfrequenoy-char~ec-teristics, and performance was significantly better with words than with nonwords. The WSE is amore general phenomenon than previously supposed; it isn1im:itedth~tacstoscopicexposure. Experiments in which visual stimuli are briefly pre-sented in order to limitperformance are ubiquitous in ex-penmental psychology. Instruments used tobriefly presen