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Tacit verification of determinate and indeterminate text ideas
1University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3T 2N2. m_singer@umanitoba.ca
Summary
This study found that reading text with uncertain truth is faster than reading false statements. This indicates that indeterminate information does not trigger lengthy memory searches during comprehension.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psycholinguistics
- Reading Comprehension
Background:
- Reading time is influenced by verification processes linking current clauses to text antecedents.
- Previous research suggests reading indeterminate truth clauses is faster than false ones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate reading times for text ideas of indeterminate truth.
- To extend Singer's (2006) findings on clause verification to indeterminate information.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted using target sentences that varied in truth value, verb entailments, and negation.
- Reading times were measured for sentences with indeterminate, false, or inconsistent truth values relative to antecedents.
Main Results:
- Reading times for indeterminate targets were often shorter and never longer than for false targets.
- Effects were modulated by verb entailments (factive vs. nonfactive) and negation.
- Replication of Singer (2006) findings under identical conditions.
Conclusions:
- Encountering indeterminate text ideas does not necessitate prolonged memory searches.
- Reading comprehension involves efficient verification processes, even with uncertain information.
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