Constructing inferences in expository text comprehension

Abstract

Prior studies have suggested that causal bridging inferences are constructed during the comprehension of narrative text (Singer, Halldorson, Lear, & Andrusiak, 1992) but not expository text (Noordman, Vonk, & Kempff, 1992). Experiment 1 revealed that results consistent with both of these conclusions can be measured simultaneously. In Experiments 2 to 4, subjects read expository texts only, and, after each one, answered a question that probed the inference of interest. For Noordman et al.’s original materials, the answer time patterns replicated a result pattern diagnostic of the failure to, compute bridging inferences. However, a pattern consistent with on‐line inference computation was detected with a new set of materials, as long as the readers were not rushed in their examination of the text (Experiments 2 and 4). It was concluded that, whereas, inference processing may be impeded by the relative lack of familiarity of the content of expository text, it is not strictly precluded. Rather, the results indicate that inference processing in the comprehension of expository text is regulated by the information processing constraints of the reading task and by the discourse and linguistic cues provided by the text.