In cognitive psychology, which of the following best describes the concept of vague pronoun reference?

• A. A pronoun in a sentence refers to an antecedent that is unclear or ambiguous, making it difficult to determine what the pronoun represents.
• B. A pronoun is used to refer to a specific and clearly identified noun in the previous sentence.
• C. A pronoun is used in place of a noun to avoid repetition, but always with a clear antecedent.
• D. A pronoun is omitted from a sentence, resulting in a grammatical error.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what a pronoun is in cognitive psychology and language processing. A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun to avoid repetition and make sentences smoother.
2. Step 2: Learn about antecedents, which are the nouns that pronouns refer back to in a sentence or discourse.
3. Step 3: Recognize that vague pronoun reference occurs when the pronoun's antecedent is unclear or ambiguous, making it difficult for the reader or listener to identify what the pronoun represents.
4. Step 4: Compare this with clear pronoun references, where the antecedent is specific and easily identifiable, ensuring smooth comprehension.
5. Step 5: Conclude that vague pronoun reference is best described as a pronoun referring to an unclear or ambiguous antecedent, which can cause confusion in understanding the sentence.