Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to characterize differences among propositions within a propositional structure. Propositions were described in terms of degree (the number of other propositions to which each is connected) and in terms of a kind of hierarchical level. Paragraphs having a given structure were tested in three tasks: selection of the most important proposition, free recall, and reading under two orienting instructions. Performance was analyzed according to degree and level of the individual propositions and according to the sequences of propositions within the paragraphs. All of these variables affected performance in various tasks. The results were discussed in terms of the distinction between initial encoding and subsequent recall.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Reference note
Walker, C. H., Yekovich, F. R., & Blackman, H. S.Prerequisites for the formation of linguistic argument repetition. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, St. Louis, Missouri, 1976.
References
Aaronson, D. Performance theories for sentence coding.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1976,2, 42–55.
Anderson, J. R.Language, memory, and thought. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum, 1976.
Clark, H. H. The language-as-fixed-effect fallacy: A critique of language statistics in psychological research.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1973,12,335–359.
Clark, H. H. Discussion of Wike and Church’s comments.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1976,15, 257–260.
Clark, H. H., &Haviland, S. E. Comprehension and the givennew contract. In R. O. Freedle (Ed.),Discourse production and comprehension. Norwood, N.J: Ablex, 1977.
Craik, F. I. M., &Lockhart, R. S. Levels of processing: A framework for memory research.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1972,11, 671–684.
Craik, F. I. M., &Tulving, E. Depth of processing and the retention of words in episodic memory.Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 1975,104, 268–294.
Graesser, A. C. How to catch a fish: The memory and representation of common procedures.Discourse Processes, 1978,1, 72–89.
Harary, F., Norman, R. Z., &Cartwright, D.Structural models: An introduction to the theory of directed graphs. New York: Wiley, 1965.
Haviland, S. E., &Clark, H. H. What’s new? Acquiring new information as a process in comprehension.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1974,13, 512–521.
Kieras, D. Good and bad structure in simple paragraphs: Effects on apparent theme, reading time, and recall.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1978,17, 13–28.
Kintsch, W.The representation of meaning in memory. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum, 1974.
Kintsch, W. On comprehending stories. In E. N. Cofer (Ed.),The structure of human memory. San Francisco: Freeman, 1976.
Kintsch, W., Kozminsky, G., Streby, W. L., McKoon, G., &Keenan, J. M. Comprehension and recall of text as a function of content variables.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1975,14, 196–214.
Kintsch, W., &van Dijk, T. A. Toward a model of text comprehension and production.Psychological Review, 1978,85, 363–394.
Manelis, L., &Yekovich, F. R. Repetition of propositional arguments in sentences.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1976,15, 301–312.
Marasciulo, L. A., &McSweeney, M. Nonparametric post hoc comparisons for trend.Psychological Bulletin, 1967,67,401–412.
Meyer, B. J. F.The organization of prose and its effects on memory. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1975.
Nelson, T. O. Repetition and depth of processing.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1977,16, 151–171.
Rumelhart, D. E. Understanding and summarizing brief stories. In D. LaBerge & S. J. Samuels (Eds.),Basic processes in reading: Perception and comprehension. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum, 1976.
Thorndyke, P. W. Cognitive structures in comprehension and memory of narrative discourse.Cognitive Psychology, 1977,9, 77–110.
Wike, E. L., &Church, J. D. Comments on Clark’s “The language-as-fixed-effect fallacy.”Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1976,15,249–256.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manelis, L. Determinants of processing for a propositional structure. Memory & Cognition 8, 49–57 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197551
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197551