Number of subjects, 11; number of sections, 10; number of experiments, 110; number of associations, 1569.
GROUP II
Two concrete nouns with apparently equivalent connotation were pronounced. In order that the subject get no clue as to the preponderance of one starting-point over the other, the nine sections were given at irregular intervals in connection with other experiments.
The tables show few cases of fusion, there being but one case in the eighty experiments where all the associations were the result of the combined influence of both starting-points. There was no other instance where complete fusion took place before the sixth association and continued throughout, and only six cases where any form of fusion took place in the eighty experiments within the first five words (7.6%), while in the one hundred and seven experiments of Group I there were twenty-five (23.9%).
The tables show a tendency which was noted when two syllables were used and which is emphatically brought out here, namely, it is the position or sequence which determines which of the two equivalent starting-points shall produce the greater influence. When the two starting-points are given in immediate succession, it is the second which predominates in influence. This preponderance may be clearly demonstrated by the tables alone, though there are many notes which show "the greater influence of one" (the second). A. seems to have realized this when he wrote, "While the first was uppermost the second hovered in subconsciousness, resting content, knowing that it would have its turn soon." In corroboration the tables give—abstracting from all cases of fusion—268 words (23.2%) for the first, 721 words (62.3%) for the second. In fifty-five of the eighty experiments the last had full control at the end of the series. Taking the cases where one was followed exclusively throughout the series, starting between the first and the sixth named association, we find eight for the first and twenty-nine for the second. This greater influence is again to be found in the cases of partial fusion; the first predominating in 2.6%, and the second in 4.3%.
The results of both groups show that the starting-points tend in a high degree toward independent influence, and also that such a method of presentation is one of sequence rather than simultaneity, as the two words show unequal influence. The former must in a manner be reproduced to become a point of departure for associations, while the latter acts directly. Is it then a condition of mind that when similar impressions are presented the one in the presence of which consciousness is reacting directly has a greater influence in arousing associations than one which is just past? This we are forced to conclude is the case, but the proof of the conclusion will be supplemented by later results.
TABLE II. TWO WORDS SPOKEN
Time—50 seconds.
Characters—same as Table I.
| (1) Library—River | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| M. | | | + | + | β | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||
| F. | | | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
| H. | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||
| Ro. | | | | | | | | | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||
| J. | | | – | | | | | | | | | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| Bl. | | | | | – | – | – | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | – | / | ||||
| By. | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bos. | | | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||||||||||
| Bur. | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||
| (1) Library—River. | (6) Store—Church. |
| (2) Hat—Road. | (7) Soldier—House. |
| (3) Newspaper—Medicine. | (8) Ship—Boy. |
| (4) Bicycle—Drum. | (9) Furniture—Tree. |
| (5) Theatre—Magazine. |