Antecedent search processes and the structure of text

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Psycholinguistics
• Memory Research

Background:

• Kintsch and van Dijk's (1978) model posits a search of long-term memory (LTM) when concepts exceed short-term memory capacity.
• Existing search models within this framework predict slower retrieval for more recent information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the nature of the memory search process when retrieving concepts from LTM.
• To test predictions of Kintsch and van Dijk's (1978) model regarding concept reinstatement times.
• To evaluate alternative models of memory search, specifically a backward parallel search.

Main Methods:

• Four experiments were conducted using reading time and naming time as measures.
• Participants read passages with early and late potential antecedents.
• Naming time was used to assess current activation levels.

Main Results:

• Reading time differences indicated faster reinstatement of late antecedents compared to early ones.
• This finding contradicts predictions from several Kintsch and van Dijk-based search models.
• Naming time was confirmed to measure current activation, not LTM strength.
• Experiment 4 showed that intervening concepts are often accessed during antecedent search.

Conclusions:

• The results support a backward parallel search model for accessing text representations in LTM.
• Text is best understood as an integrated network accessed via backward parallel search.
• Current activation, not LTM strength, is measured by naming time in this context.