Updating a situation model: a memory-based text processing view

Previous research (J. E. Albrecht & E. J. O'Brien, 1993) demonstrated that readers were aware of an inconsistency between an earlier described characteristic of a protagonist and a subsequent target action carried out by the protagonist. In a series of 5 experiments, a qualification was added to the described characteristic that restricted the conditions under which the characteristic was operative. According to the here-and-now view of mapping, readers should use this qualification to maintain a fully updated model of the protagonist in active memory and should not experience comprehension difficulty when reading the target action. In contrast, according to the memory-based text processing view, the qualification would not be part of the active discourse model. Instead, it would be reactivated when the target action was read. Thus, readers should still experience comprehension difficulty. Results of all 5 experiments were consistent with the memory-based text processing view.     

Accessing global causes during reading.

In 4 experiments, the authors examined whether readers accessed distant causal antecedents for consequent events when the text was locally coherent and a more recent causal antecedent was available. Participants read passages that contained 2 possible causal antecedents for a consequent event; 1 appeared early in the passage, and the other appeared late. The early causal antecedent was elaborated in half of the passages, and neither causal antecedent was elaborated in the remaining half. Experiments 1A and 1B demonstrated that when the more distant, early causal antecedent had been elaborated, both it and the more recent, late causal antecedent were active in memory following the consequent event. In Experiments 2A and 2B, both causal antecedents were backgrounded prior to reading the consequent event. When neither causal antecedent had been elaborated, only the late causal antecedent was reactivated by the consequent event. However, when the early causal antecedent had been elaborated, only it was reactivated. Results are discussed in terms of several recent models of comprehension. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Activation and suppression of antecedents during reinstatement.

In 3 experiments, the nature of the search for antecedents during reading was investigated by examination of the effects of reinstatement on long-term memory for potential antecedents. Participants read passages that contained 2 possible antecedents; one appearing early in the passages and the other appearing late. Experiment 1 showed that reinstated antecedents were strengthened in long-term memory whereas potential but nonselected antecedents that fell in the path of an antecedent search were suppressed. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that this suppression was restricted to concepts that shared a high degree of featural overlap with the target antecedent and with the anaphoric phrase prompting the search. Results are discussed in terms of antecedent search as a resonance process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)