A comprehensive approach to specificity effects in spoken-word recognition

In this chapter, the authors argue in favor of a comprehensive approach to research on specificity effects in spoken-word recognition. The authors review findings demonstrating the roles that the talker, speech signal, listener, and context play in specificity effects. Moreover, the authors discuss theoretical frameworks and identify empirical questions that emerge from examining specificity effects through a comprehensive lens. The chapter also includes reviews of empirical tests of the time-course and attention-based hypotheses, and a discussion of whether specificity effects emanate from the mental lexicon or a more general memory system. Finally, the authors discuss the importance of considering methodological, analytical, and technological advancements, the value of interdisciplinary, basic, and applied research, and new goals in research on specificity effects. The field is now equipped for investigations with a wider range of talkers, signals, listeners, and contexts, which will help ensure that results from laboratory studies apply to everyday settings.