ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of the cognitive representations and processes involved in multiple source use. The REading as Problem SOLVing (RESOLV) model proposes that reading multiple sources unfolds as a function of reader decisions and actions. While the Multiple-Document Task-based Relevance Assessment and Content Extraction (MD-TRACE) framework highlighted the contextualized and decision-based nature of reading, there are several limitations that led us to propose RESOLV as a more comprehensive model of complex reading. The ultimate purpose of all of this cognitive and physical reading activity is the construction of a Documents Model, a representation of the meaning of the textual content that can help achieve the reader's goal. RESOLV proposes three routine processing decisions to guide reading that are a regular part of general reading behavior. RESOLV focuses on a reader's goals and their control of information gathering and processing decisions during a reading task.