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Prior Knowledge and Story Processing: Integration, Selection, and Variation. Technical Report No. 138.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Prior Knowledge and Story Processing: Integration, Selection, and Variation. Technical Report No. 138.
Language: English
Authors: Spiro, Rand J., Illinois Univ., Urbana. Center for the Study of Reading., Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Inc., Cambridge, MA.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 41
Publication Date: 1979
Sponsoring Agency: National Inst. of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC.
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: Discourse Analysis, Memory, Reading Processes, Reading Research, Recall (Psychology), Research Reports, Semantics
Abstract: Psychological research concerning several aspects of the relationship between existing knowledge schemata and the processing of text is summarized in this report. The first section is concerned with dynamic processes of story understanding, with emphasis on the integration of information. The role of prior knowledge in accommodating parts of stories received at different times to each other is illustrated, and schema change and schema maintenance as a basis for integration are considered. The second section emphasizes characteristics of prior knowledge as determinants of selectivity in memory. The issues discussed include: the expected future derivability of information, the degree of constraint provided by schemata, and the performance biases produced by attitudes. The third section investigates variability in the employment of schema-based processing. Among the factors shown in this section to affect the relative utilization of schemata in understanding stories are characteristics of texts and reading tasks and differences between individuals in discourse processing styles. Finally, future directions for schema-theoretic research are suggested. (FL)
Entry Date: 1980
Accession Number: ED176235
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Psychological research concerning several aspects of the relationship between existing knowledge schemata and the processing of text is summarized in this report. The first section is concerned with dynamic processes of story understanding, with emphasis on the integration of information. The role of prior knowledge in accommodating parts of stories received at different times to each other is illustrated, and schema change and schema maintenance as a basis for integration are considered. The second section emphasizes characteristics of prior knowledge as determinants of selectivity in memory. The issues discussed include: the expected future derivability of information, the degree of constraint provided by schemata, and the performance biases produced by attitudes. The third section investigates variability in the employment of schema-based processing. Among the factors shown in this section to affect the relative utilization of schemata in understanding stories are characteristics of texts and reading tasks and differences between individuals in discourse processing styles. Finally, future directions for schema-theoretic research are suggested. (FL)