Does guessing distort the results of the method of triple associates?

Abstract

This investigation is based chiefly on responses made by 473 undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota. The material consisted of seven actual advertising slogans and six fictitious slogans patterned after Link's method of triple associates. Results were evaluated by the formula[Equation omitted]in which " R is the number of correct guesses, W is the number who guessed wrong less those who did not list the brand in question, and Y is the average number of brands known by the group." The influence of guessing is not constant. The wording of the triple-associates question influences the probability of guessing correctly. "If question states the name of a specific product (coffee, laundry soap, etc.) the probability of guessing correctly is greater than if the question states only the general name of the commodity (food, etc.) or does not name the product at all." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)