ABSTRACT
Unlike a knowledge-based view of coherence, and in particular the explanatory theory assumed by global models, several authors have argued that readers access backgrounded information through a passive resonance process. Because it is assumed that a fast and automatic checking of the fit of new input to existing representations occurs, both in relation to background knowledge and to the representation of prior text, local and global connections are possible even when local connections are successful (Albrecht & O’Brien, 1993; Huitema et al., 1993; O’Brien & Albrecht, 1992). In this sense, it counters one of the main assumptions brought to the fore by the Minimalist Theory (McKoon & Ratcliff, 1992). Huitema et al. (1993) looked at whether readers access global information even when local information is successful for establishing coherence. In Huitema et al.’s (1993) study, subjects had to read stories that were similar in content to those in McKoon and Ratcliff’s (1992) experiments. First, a protagonist’s goal was mentioned: (Dick … wanted to go to a place where he could swim and sunbathe.) Then some intermediate sentences were inserted: (… he went to his local travel agent.) Finally the story ended with a description of an action that was compatible (… and asked for a plane ticket to Florida) or incompatible (… and asked for a plane ticket to Alaska) with the initially stated goal. The authors observed longer reading times when the sentence described an incompatible action than a compatible action. This increase in reading time was at-
tributed to a fast-acting process (i.e., resonance) that allows readers to reinstate initial goal-related information. These data also support the Constructionist Theory, as well as other theories of comprehension that claim that readers maintain not only local but also global coherence (Graesser et al., 1994; Kintsch, 1998; van Dijk & Kintsch, 1983).
