Perspective effects during reading: evidence from text change-detection

Bohan, J. and Filik, R. (2018) Perspective effects during reading: evidence from text change-detection. Discourse Processes, 55(2), pp. 113-122. (doi: 10.1080/0163853X.2017.1330020)

Abstract

We report two text change-detection studies in which we investigate the influence of reading perspective on text memory. In Experiment 1, participants read from the perspective of one of two characters in a series of short stories, and word changes were either semantically close or distant. Participants correctly reported more changes to perspective-relevant than -irrelevant words, and for distant than close changes. However, distance and perspective did not interact, suggesting that adopting a particular perspective did not lead to a more fine-grained analysis of perspective-relevant information. In Experiment 2, participants read one long narrative from the perspective of either a burglar or house-buyer. Results showed that only participants with a low working memory span showed perspective effects, suggesting that individual differences in working memory capacity appear to influence processing of perspective-relevant information.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bohan, Dr Jason and Filik, Dr Ruth
• Authors: Bohan, J., and Filik, R.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
• Journal Name: Discourse Processes
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0163-853X
• ISSN (Online): 1532-6950
• Published Online: 23 June 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
• First Published: First published in Discourse Processes 55(2):113-122
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher