Constructing inferences during narrative text comprehension.
1994/01/01 by Arthur C. Graesser, Murray Singer, Tom Trabasso · 2,461 citations
Psychology · #Artificial intelligence #Cognitive psychology #Cognitive science #Comprehension #Computer science #Construct (python library) #Construction grammar #Constructionism #Educational Strategies and Epistemologies #Epistemology #Language, Metaphor, and Cognition #Linguistics #Meaning (existential) #Narrative #Natural language processing #Psychology #Reading and Literacy Development #Representation (politics) #Social constructionism #Strict constructionism #Variety (cybernetics)
paper · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.101.3.371
published in Psychological Review 101(3), 371-395 (American Psychological Association)
openalex publication_date 1994/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Abstract
The authors describe a constructionist theory that accounts for the knowledge-based inferences that are constructed when readers comprehend narrative text. Readers potentially generate a rich variety of inferences when they construct a referential situation model of what the text is about. The proposed constructionist theory specifies that some, but not all, of this information is constructed under most conditions of comprehension. The distinctive assumptions of the constructionist theory embrace a principle of search (or effort) after meaning. According to this principle, readers attempt to construct a meaning representation that addresses the reader's goals, that is coherent at both local and global levels, and that explains why actions, events, and states are mentioned in the text. This study reviews empirical evidence that addresses this theory and contrasts it with alternative theoretical frameworks.
Citations
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