AbstractSchizophrenics matched by pairs with 26 neurotics were found to be no different in commonality scores under free association conditions on steep‐slope words from Moran's (1966) word list equated for “idiodynamic set pull” Schizophrenics scored significantly lower (P<0.05) in commonality on flatslope words, where steep‐slope and flat‐slope refer respectively to stimulus words with one or several commonly occurring associates. Matched by pairs with 23 “normal” controls, schizophrenics scored significantly lower in commonality on both steep‐slope and flat‐slope words under free association conditions. These findings are contrary to the prediction for the two‐stage, self‐editing‐deficit model (Lisman&Cohen, 1972) and are consistent with the one‐stage, partial‐collapse‐of‐hierarchy hypothesis (Broen&Storms, 1966). Other results (e. g., schizophrenics obtained significantly lower commonality for Concept‐referent, but not for Dimension‐referent or Object‐referent, steep‐slope stimulus words) suggest that these models might be modified so as to take into account the