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J «W J ‘W fr"? .5‘ 441%;ng u') '~:..-.1:,n;“I .. :yg-II ‘ -.'5' C .)_4 _> - -"‘_ FRE Duration of gaze Total reading time BLE ) FRE Duration of gaze 89 IRE) FRE Number of total movements Duration of gaze Total reading time ILE ) FRE Number of total movements Number of forward fixations Number of regressions Duration of forward fixations Duration of regressions Duration of gaze Total reading time ILE>’BLE Number of total movements Number of forward fixations Duration of gaze Total reading time ILE ) BRE Number of total movements Number of forward fixations Duration of forward fixations Duration of regressions Duration of gaze Total reading time *p (.05 The rationale of this study was to compare visual pro- cessing behaviors to determine whether a pattern existed in the visual processing behaviors of each condition. Differ- ences existed among the mean scores for each visual process- ing behavior. While many comparisons among the six condi— tions did not reach statistical significance, those mean scores may suggest a pattern. Consequently, the mean scores of each of the visual processing behaviors for each of the six conditions in this study are presented in Table 5.2. 90 mmm0m.m 0mvoh.a HHHHv. mhmmN.H 0mom.~ ¢vma.0 000.HH AH mHm0N.N mNHmv.H mmomm. N000H.H HHOM.N h0Hv.h mhhh.m mH M000H.N 000H0.H mmmmm. 0H000.H 000N.N 0000.5 000N.m am vmmwm.a mamvN.H >00Hm. mmam0.H NNNh.H mmmm.0 0000.0 mm 0005H.N thvv.H mmmmm. mmmmH.H vvma.m HHOm.h 0000.0 Ah HOH05.H thma.a mmoha. mmm0m. Nth.H 5000.0 mmma.m mm Amocoowm may 6539 mcawmwm Hmuoe Amwcooom :flv mwmw mo coaumusa Amccoomm cflv mcoflmmmummm mo cowumusa Anacoowm may mcoflumxflm 0Hm3hom mo cofiumuso mconmmHmmm mo umbesz mcowumxwm 0Hm3uom mo Hwnfisz mucmEm>oz Hmuoe mo Hmnfidz .muofl>mnmmxmcwmmwooum Hmsmfi> How memo: .N.m magma 91 Discussion Analysis of the data indicated that competent adult readers made statistically significant behavioral adjust- ments in their reading to accommodate either the informa- tion structUre of the material or the syntactic structure of the sentence's being read. These behavioral adjustments are consistent with the interactionist theory of reading comprehension that contends that syntactic processing is not static but, instead, interacts with specific discourse variables within the passage during the sentence understandw ing process. Ease of sentence processing is apparently de- termined by several factors; among these factors are the information structure within the discourse and the sentence as well as the syntactic structure of the sentence's being read. Although the results of this study could be allotted only limited statistical legitimacy, an examination of the means for the areas of visual behaviors within the six con- ditions support the interactionist theory (see Table 5.2). The means for each of the visual processing behaviors were consistent in difficulty when they were rank ordered. These means indicated that the left-embedded, syntactic structures in the inferred condition always pre- sented the most processing difficulty. The next most dif- ficult were the rightwembedded, syntactic structures in the inferred condition. The sole exception occurred in dura- tion of regressions where the backgrounded, left-embedded 92 scores were higher. The structures with the lowest means were always the right-embedded structures in the fore- grounded condition. These scores indicated that the infor— mation structure of the paragraph and the target sentence are factors that influenced the ease of sentence processing. These: scores also indicated that the syn- tactic structure of the sentence's being read was a factor regardless of the information structure of the paragraph. Within the foregrounded, backgrounded, and inferred condi- tions, the means for the left-embedded structures were al— ways greater than the corresponding means for the right- embedded structures within each of those conditions. While the differences in the mean scores among each of the six conditions did not meet statistical significance, they were consistently in the direction predicted by interactionist theory. Possibly, either a larger sample of subjects or anmme powerful statistical test than Tukey's pggt hog procedure could have yielded additional statistically significant differences among the six condi- tions. Hays (1963) noted that planned comparisons are more powerful and, consequently, have a greater probability of finding significance than post hp: procedures. The results of the study support the position that the given-new strategy is a microprocess in sentence comprehen- sion through the finding that the introduction of given in- formation prior to the target sentence resulted in easier sentence processing. This prior introduction occurred in 93 both the foregrounded and backgrounded conditions. Fore— grounding of information especially facilitated the proces- sing of right-embedded, syntactic structures. The fore- grounded, right-embedded structures were significantly eas- ier to process than all of the structures except the back- grounded, right-embedded, syntactic structures. One pos- sible explanation for this lack of difference in processing is that, in both the foregrounded and backgrounded condi- tions, the given information was introduced prior to the right-embedded structures. The significant differences that existed between the foregrounded, right~embedded struc- tures and the inferred, right-embedded structures could a1— so be explained by the given-new strategy. This explana« tion offers one possible explanation for the significantly longer processing time required for the inferred, right- embedded structures. The right-embedded structures were processed faster in the foregrounded condition because of given information's being introduced immediately prior to the righteembedded structures. The increased time re- quired, on the other hand, for the right—embedded struc- tures in the inferred condition occurred because the read— ers lacked the appropriate antecedent within their memory structures, and they had to construct an inferential bridge between information within the right-embedded structures and antecedents within their memory structures. This bridg- ing resulted in the increased processing time for the right. embedded structures in the inferred condition. 94 Differences between the foregrounded and inferred con- ditions also existed for the left-embedded structures, with the means for the inferred, left—embedded structures' being greater. While the differences between the foregrounded, left-embedded structures and the inferred, left-embedded structures did not meet statistical significance, the means of the seven visual processing measures were all larger for leftwembedded structures in the inferred condition; and five of these seven measures approached statistical signifi- cance. Furthermore, significant statistical differences existed between the backgrounded, left-embedded structures and the inferred, left—embedded structures. The lesser pro- cessing time for the 1eft~embedded structures in the back— grounded condition may have occurred because information within the left-embedded structures had been introduced prior to the target sentence. The differences that existed between the left-embedded structures between the fore- grounded condition and the backgrounded condition with the inferred condition are consistent with the explanation put forward by the given-new strategy. While the results of this study support the basic ten- ets of the given-new strategy as a microprocess involved in sentence comprehension, the results do not appear to sup- port the hypothesis that special psychological status is given to the current topic of a discourse in sentence pro» cessing. Neither the backgrounded, right—embedded struc- tures nor the backgrounded, left-embedded structures 95 significantly differed from their foregrounded counterparts. While there was a tendency for the mean scores for the back- grounded, rightwembedded structures to be higher than the means for the foregrounded, right-embedded structures, none of those differences approached significance. Further— more, this tendency did not exist in the differences between the backgrounded, left-embedded and the foregrounded, left- embedded structures. In five of the seven measures of visual processing, the foregrounded, leftvembedded struc- tures had higher means than the backgrounded, left-embedded structures. While this finding does not agree with the findings of Lesgold, Roth, and Curtis (1979), it should be noted that the possibility exists that additional filler sentences might have resulted in significant differences' being found between the backgrounded, syntactic structures and the foregrounded, syntactic structures. Furthermore, the Lesgold, Roth, and Curtis' studies employed a different methodology, chronometrics, to measure speed of sentence understanding, not visual processing behaviors during the reading of the sentences. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the syntactic structure of a sentence serves the function of organization of elements within the sentence. Apparentu ly, the information in left-embedded structures is not in- tegrated into the reader's memory as easily as the informa- tion in rightvembedded structures. This is shown by the larger means for the left—embedded structures compared to 96 the means for the rightvembedded structures in the fore- grounded, backgrounded, and inferred conditions. While the only differences that reached statistical significance were those in the foregrounded condition, the means for the left- embedded structures in both the backgrounded and inferred conditions were larger than the means for the right— embedded structures in both the backgrounded and inferred conditons. These apparent tendencies agree with the results of Bader, Pearce, and Thompson (1980) who reported signifi- cant differences between 1efteembedded structures and right- embedded structures in both the unrelated discourse condi— tion and in the related discourse condition. However, this earlier study did not specifically control for discourse variables within coherent passages. It is not inconsistent with interactive theory to hypothesize that controlling for discourse variables within the passage would lessen but not remove the differences in the visual processing of left— embedded and right-embedded, syntactic structures. The interactive theory may also be supported by com- parisons between the inferred, left-embedded structures and the foregrounded, rightsembedded structures. This is the only comparison that found significant differences in all seven visual processing behaviors. This is also the only comparison in which the left-embedded structures showed significantly more regressions and longer regressions. These findings of increased regressions and of longer dura- tion for those regressions are not inconsistent with the 97 interpretation that the inferred condition required an in- creased memory search, and this interacted with the less organized and less easily processed left-embedded struc— tures, since regressions can also be indicators of memory search. Carpenter and Just (1977) posited that regressions reflected both increased memory search by the reader and the reader's efforts to make sense out of the material“ The pattern of increased regressions and the longer duration of those regressions for the inferred, left-embedded struc- tures as compared to the foregrounded, right-embedded struc— tures is consistent with the previous interpretation of the posited roles of both discourse structures and syntactic structures in the sentence comprehension process. Implications of the Study This study has contributed to our knowledge of the in- teraction between passage information structure and syntac- tic structures in sentence comprehension during the reading act. This study has established that competent adult read- ers make statistically significant behavioral adjustments to variations in passage coherence and sentence syntactic structure during the reading of a sentence. The study has established that both left- and right-embedded structures are more difficult to process when specific information within that structure is not introduced in the preceeding passage. These results support the role of given, or re- dundant, information as a factor in sentence comprehension. 98 The study established that leftvembedded structures in the inferred conditions were the most difficult structures to process and that right-embedded structures in the fore- grounded conditions were the easiest structures to process. The pattern of the data also seemed to indicate micropro- cesses involved in sentence processing that are consistent with interactionist theories of reading comprehension. This study has explored language comprehension during reading and has contributed to basic knowledge on sentence comprehension during the reading of passages by competent adult readers. It would be premature at this point in the research to suggest educational or instructional implica- tions of the research. Rather, emphasis should be placed on continuing the momentum generated by this and similar studies to broaden the base of knowledge in psycholinguis- tic processing. Recommendations for Future Research The findings of this study justify further investiga— tion into the effects of discourse variables on sentence comprehension in psycholinguistic processing behavior. It is recommended that further research be conducted in direc- tions that were suggested by the present study. 1. Research should be conducted to replicate the findings of this study using a larger number of subjects. The purpose of this re— search would be to determine whether the 99 directional tendencies noted in the mean scores could be replicated with a larger number of subjects. This research would also deter- mine whether additional statistically signi— ficant differences existed between the means for each of the six conditions. Research should be conducted that investi- gate whether special psychological status is given to the current topic of a dis- course in sentence processing. Specifi- cally, whether there is a difference be- tween foregrounded and backgrounded infor— mation on sentence processing should be examined. Research should be conducted examining whether differences in the microprocesses of sentence comprehension exist between competent and less competent adult readers. Research should be conducted into whether or not a developmental sequence of visual processing behaviors during the reading of selected syntactic structures in fore“ grounded and inferred conditions exists between childhood and adulthood. APPENDIX A SENTENCES APPENDIX A Sentence #1 Foreground, right-embedding The Detroit Lions had had a good year until their quarterback had been hurt. Detroit had then lost the next two football games. Then they had traded for a quarterback. Now Detroit needed to win the final game of the season in order to win the championship. The final game was a real thriller. The score was tied until the last quarter. Then a great play by the quarterback decided the final game. The quarterback won the final game that Detroit needed. He ran thirty yards for a touchdown when he could not find a receiver in the open. Foreground, left—embedding The Detroit Lions had had a good year until their quarterback had been hurt. Then Detroit had lost two foot- ball games in a row. Detroit needed a new quarterback. Finally.fom the final game of the season, Detroit got the new quarterback they needed. The final game was a thriller. The score was tied until the last five minutes of play. Then a play by the quarterback decided the final game. The quarterback that Detroit needed won the final game. He ran thirty yards for a touchdown after not finding an Open receiver. Background, right-embedding The Detroit Lions had had a good year until their quarterback had been hurt. Detroit had then lost the next two football games. Then they had traded for a quarterback. Now Detroit needed to win the final game of the season in order to win the championship. The final game was a real thriller. The score was tied until the last quarter. Then a great play by the quarterback decided the final game. The stands were filled with loudly cheering peOple. One estimate was that the stands held forty thousand people. The quarterback won the final game that Detroit needed. He ran thirty yards for a touchdown when he could not find a receiver in the open. 100 101 Background, left-embedding The Detroit Lions had had a good year until their quarterback had been hurt. Then Detroit had lost two foot- ball games in a row. Detroit needed a new quarterback. Finally, for the final game of the season, Detroit got the new quarterback they needed. The final game was a thriller The score was tied until the last five minutes of play. Then a play by the quarterback decided the final game. The stands were filled with loudly cheering peOple. One esti- mate was that the stands held forty thousand people. The quarterback that Detroit needed won the final game. He ran thirty yards for a touchdown after not finding an Open receiver. Inferred, left-embedding Michigan has a city that had long wanted a winner in sports. For a while it looked as if the fans would finally have one, but injuries on the team made the chances of that happening seem rather remote. Fans talked about the team having holes in it and the outlook not being good. Still on a cold Sunday afternoon the fans turned out in large numbers to cheer and watch history being made. The quarterback that Detroit needed won the final game. He had come back and played hurt. Furthermore, he won the final game of the season. Inferred, right-embedding Michigan has a city that had long wanted a winner in sports. This year for a while it had looked as if the fans would be rewarded after their long wait. However, before that could happen, the team needed one more victory. In- juries on the team made the chances of that happening seem rather remote. Still, the fans were loyal and on a Sunday afternoon they received a very pleasant surprise. The quarterback won the final game that Detroit needed. He ran for a touchdown with less than five minutes left to play. This won the championship. Sentence #2 Foreground, left-embedding The skiers wanted snow. If it did not snow soon, the downhill race would not be held. The downhill race was a big yearly event that drew skiers from all over the world. Unfortunately, this year the slopes were bare and without snow there would be no race. Then the day before the race 102 it snowed. The blizzard closed the roads. However, no one minded the snow because of its effect on the downhill race. The snow that skiers wanted permitted the downhill race. The race was a success. Furthermore, the skiers had the slopes to themselves for two days because of the storm. Foreground, right-embedding The skiers wanted the downhill race. This year the downhill race was going to settle the argument of who was the best skier once and for all. Unfortunately, the slopes were bare and without snow there would not be a race to crown a champion. Then the day before the race it started to snow. The storm closed the roads. However, no one minded the snow's effect because of the downhill race. The snow permitted the downhill race that skiers wanted. The race was a success. The winner was crowned champion. Furthermore, all the skiers had a good time. Background, left-embedding The skiers wanted snow. If it did not snow soon, the downhill race would not be held. The downhill race was a big yearly event that drew skiers from all over the world. Unfortunately, this year the lepes were bare and without snow there would be no race. Then one day before the race it snowed. The blizzard closed the roads. However, no one minded the snow because of its effect on the downhill race. The roads were blocked by some high drifts. One of which people estimated as being over thirty feet in length. The snow that skiers wanted permitted the downhill race. The race was a success. Furthermore, the skiers had the slopes to themselves for two days because of the storm. Background, right-embedding The skiers wanted the downhill race. This year the downhill race was going to settle the argument of who was the best skier once and for all. Unfortunately, the slopes were bare and without snow there would not be a race to crown a champion. Then the day before the race it started to snow. The storm closed the roads. However, no one minded the snow's effect because of the downhill race. The roads were blocked by some high drifts. One of which pe0ple estimated as being over thirty feet in length. The snow permitted the downhill race that skiers wanted. The race was a success. The winner was crowned champion. Furthermore, all the skiers had a good time. 103 Inferred, left-embedding A grohp of men had kept their faith during bad weather. They worked hard, and finally were rewarded. The year had started looking like a disaster in which the weather could spoil everything. Generally, it was agreed that this year could be the worst in memory. While worried, these men had continued to plan and work with the firm belief that things would change. Finally, nature cooperated. The snow that skiers wanted permitted the downhill race. The skiers' wish was granted. Furthermore, the champion was one of those that continued to work and practice. Inferred, right-embedding A group of men had kept their faith during bad weather, they worked hard, and finally were rewarded. The year had started looking like a disaster in which the weather could spoil everything. Generally, it was agreed that this year could be the worst in memory. While worried, these men had continued to plan and work with the firm belief that things would change. Finally, nature cooperated. The snow permitted the downhill race that skiers wanted. The race was exciting. Furthermore, the champion was one of those who had continued to work and practice. Sentence #3 Foreground, left-embedding The farmers needed rain to save their corn crops. If it did not rain soon, the crops would fail. Farmers then would be in trouble. They had to grow and sell corn, and to do that the farmers needed rain. Late one day a strong wind rose. Then the clouds came, it grew dark, and it started to rain. The rain was heavy but no one minded the soaking because of the rain's effect on the corn crops. The rain that farmers needed saved the corn crops. Reportedly, grown men were seen outside dancing in the rain because they were so happy. Foreground, right-embedding The farmers needed their corn crops. If it did not rain soon, their crops would dry up and fail. The farmers then would be in trouble. They had had two bad years in a row and could not afford another one. This year they had to grow and sell their corn. Then one afternoon it grew dark and started to rain. The rain was heavy but no one minded because of the rain's effect on the corn crops. 104 The rain saved the corn crops that farmers needed. Reportedly, grown men were seen outside dancing in the rain because they were so happy. Background, left-embedding The farmers needed rain to save their corn crops. If it did not rain soon, the crops would fail. Farmers then would be in trouble. They had to grow and sell corn, and to do that the farmers needed rain. Late one day a strong wind rose. Then the clouds came, it grew dark, and it started to rain. The rain was heavy but no one minded the soaking because of the rain's effect on the corn crops. In town several trees were uprooted, powerlines were knocked down, and peOple went without power for hours. The rain that farmers needed saved the corn crOps. Reportedly, grown men were seen outside dancing in the rain because they were so happy. Background, right-embedding The farmers needed their corn crOps. If it did not rain soon, their crOps would dry up and fail. The farmers then would be in trouble. They had had two had years in a row and could not afford another one. This year they had to grow and sell their corn. Then one day it grew dark and started to rain. The rain was heavy but no one minded because of the rain's effect on the corn crops. In town several trees were uprooted, powerlines were knocked down, and people went without power for hours. The rain saved the corn crops that farmers needed. Reportedly, grown men were seen outside during the bad storm dancing they were so happy. Inferred, left-embedding A group of men kept their faith during bad weather. They worked hard and were finally rewarded. The year had started out looking like a year that could not only ruin them but could also cause great harm in all of Iowa. While worried, these men had continued to work hard and trust that everything would turn out well. In the end, their work was not wasted and their prayers were answered. The rain that farmers needed saved the corn crops. Consequently, the farmers were able to grow and sell their corn. All because of hard work and rain. 105 Inferred, right—embedding A group of men kept their faith during bad weather. They worked hard and in the end were able to pay their bills. The year had started out looking like a year that could both ruin them and cause great harm in all of Iowa. While worried, these men had continued to work and trust that everything would turn out well. In the end, their work was not wasted and their prayers were answered. The rain saved the corn crops that farmers needed. Consequently, the farmers were able to grow and sell their corn. All because of hard work and rain. Sentence #4 Foregrounded, left-embedding Students turned out in force to protest against a coal company that had started to strip mine an area. The stu- dents opposed the company because of its past history. A hearing was held in which the angry students said that if the company was allowed to continue they would destroy the area. The deciding factor in this hearing was a picture of the last place the company had strip mined. The company that students opposed halted the strip mining. Apparently, the company had not restored its last site. Consequently, they were banned from any strip mining. Foregrounded, right-embedding Students turned out in force to protest against a coal company that had started strip mining an area. The stu- dents Opposed the strip mining because of the damage done to other areas of the state. A hearing was held in which both sides presented their cases. The hearing was de- cided when the angry students showed some pictures taken on the last place the company had strip mined. The company halted the strip mining that students Opposed. The company agreed not to do any more strip mining in the state until they restored their other sites. Background, left-embedding Students turned out in force to protest against a coal company that had started to strip mine an area. The stu— dents Opposed the company because of its past history. A hearing was held in which the angry students said that if the company was allowed to continue they would destroy the area. The deciding factor in this hearing was a picture of the last place the company had.strip mined. 106 The Green River which once had had waterfalls, dark pools, and fish was now a dirty mud hole without any life. The company that students Opposed halted the strip mining. Apparently, the company had not restored its last site. Consequently, they were banned from any strip mining. Background, right—embedding Students turned out in force to protest against a coal company that had started strip mining an area. The stu- dents opposed the strip mining because of the damage done to other areas of the state. A hearing was held in which both sides presented their cases. The hearing was de— cided when the angry students showed some pictures taken of the last place the company had strip mined. The Green River which once had had waterfalls, dark pools, and fish was now a dirty mud hole without any life. The company halted the strip mining that students Opposed. \The company agreed not to do any more strip mining in the state. The students were very happy. Inferred, left—embedding The business community called them radicals. However, the local newspaper which was conservative, and anything but radical, called them concerned and praised them. The paper also presented a detailed account of the hearing and printed several of the pictures that had been shown at the hearing. These pictures had caused quite a fuss and proved that one picture is worth at least a thousand words. The company that students Opposed halted the strip mining. The company had destroyed other places and the students stopped them by showing pictures of those places. Inferred, right-embedding The business community called them radicals. However, the local newspaper which was conservative, and anything but radical, called them concerned and praised them. The paper also presented a detailed account of the hearing and printed several of the pictures that had been shown at the hearing. These pictures had decided the hearing. They also proved that a picture is worth at least a thousand words. The company halted the strip mining that students Opposed. The students went out to the site of the strip mining and had a picnic. Much to the company's disgust. 107 Sentence #5 Foreground, left—embedding Fisherman came each year to fish the area. Recently, however, some Indians had been gill netting in the area and fishing was not good. The fishermen were angry and Op- posed those Indians who would not stop gill netting. This led to several fights. The problem went to court where both fishermen and Indians turned out in force. There a judge ruled against the Indians saying gill netting was illegal. The Indians that fishermen opposed halted the gill netting. Within one year Of the decision fishing in the area was returning to normal. Foreground, right-embedding Fishermen came each year to fish the area. Recently, however, some Indians had been gill netting in the area and fishing was no longer good. The fishermen were mad and opposed gill netting. This led to fights between the two groups. The prohlem went to court where both fishermen and Indians turned out in force. The court ruled that gill netting by anyone, including these Indians, was illegal. The Indians halted the gill netting that fishermen Opposed. Within one year after this decision fishing in the area was returning to normal. Background, left-embedding Fishermen came each year to fish the area. ‘Recently, however, some Indians had been gill netting in the area and fishing was not good. The fishermen were angry and Op- posed those Indians who would not stop gill netting. This led to several fights. The problem went to court where both fishermen and Indians turned out in force. There a judge ruled against the Indians saying gill netting was illegal. PeOple came from all over. Storekeepers in town took ad- vantage of this and doubled their prices on everything. The Indians that fishermen Opposed halted the gill netting. Within one year of the decision fishing in the area was re- turning to normal. Background, right-embedding Fishermen came each year to fish the area. Recently, however, some Indians had been gill netting in the area and fishing was no longer good. .The fishermen were mad and op- posed gill netting. This led to fights between the two groups. The problem went to court where both fishermen 108 and Indians turned out in force. The court ruled that gill netting by anyone, including these Indians, was illegal. People came from all over. Storekeepers in town took ad- vantage of this and doubled their prices on everything. The Indians halted the gill netting that fishermen opposed. Within one year after this decision fishing in this area was returning to normal. Inferred, left-embedding Natural resources do not last foreVer. Nature can only replace resources at a certain speed. When people use them rapidly, then resources become scarce and fights start over the use of resources. Such was the case last year with charges being made, tempers growing short, and nobody giving in. Finally, a large amount of money de- cided everything. Two million dollars was spent. The Indians that fishermen opposed halted the gill netting. Rather than see someone killed, the government bought the Indians' fishing rights, making both groups happy. Inferred, right—embedding Natural resources do not last forever. Nature can only replace resources at a certain speed. When people use them rapidly, then resources become scarce and fights start over the use and saving of resources. Such was the case last year with charges being made, tempers growing short, and nobody giving in. Finally, a large amount of money decided everything. Two million dollars was spent. The Indians halted the gill netting that fishermen Opposed. A large group of fishermen bought from the Indians their right to gill net, making both fishermen and Indians happy. Sentence #6 Foreground, left-embedding A health club had been robbed. Mike, the owner of the club, had put tne payroll money on his desk. A blonde lady had come in to ask about joining. Mike had taken her into his office to explain the benefits. However, the money was not put away, and Mike was called out of the office. The blonde was left alone. The temptation was too much for the blonde and resulted in the loss of the payroll money. The blonde that Mike left took the payroll money. The employees could not be paid that week. Consequently, they were rather angry. Mike was also angry, at himself. 109 Foreground, right-embedding A health club had been robbed. Mike, the owner of the club, had left the payroll money on his desk. A blonde woman had come in to ask about joining. Mike had taken her into his office to explain the benefits. The payroll money was left on the desk when Mike was called out of the Office for an emergency. The temptation proved too much for the blonde and resulted in the loss of the payroll money. The blonde took the payroll money that Mike left. The employees could not be paid when they expected to be paid. Consequently, they were rather angry. Background, left-embedding A health club had been robbed. Mike, the owner of the club, had put the payroll money on his desk. A blonde lady had come in to ask about joining. Mike had taken her into his office to explain the benefits. However, the money was not put away, and Mike was suddenly called out of the office. The blonde was left alone. The temptation was too much for the blonde and resulted in the loss of the payroll money. An employee had needed help with a machine that was new and the employee did not know how to Operate it. The blonde that Mike left took the payroll money. The employees could not be paid that week. Consequently, they were rather angry. Mike was also angry, at himself. Background, right-embedding A health club had been robbed. Mike, the owner of the club, had left the payroll money on his desk. A blonde woman had come in to ask about joining. Mike had taken her into his office to explain the benefits. The payroll money was left on the desk when Mike was called out of the office for an emergency. The temptation proved too much for the blonde and resulted in the loss of the payroll money. An employee had needed help with a machine that was new and the employee did not know how to operate it. The blonde took the payroll money that Mike left. The employees could not be paid when they expected to be paid. Consequently, they were rather angry. Inferred, left-embedding The owner of a health club had an employee problem. The employees were mad and the owner did not blame them. But they would still have to wait a week. He reflected that this problem arose from stupidity and love of women. Both 110 the stupidity and love of women were his. He had just not thought. So when an employee had called him out of his office to help him repair a broken machine, he had gone. The blonde that Mike left took the payroll money. Consequently, the employees were not getting paid this week and they were angry. Inferred, right-embedding The owner of a health club had an employee problem. The employees were mad and the owner did not blame them. But they would have to wait a week. He reflected that this problem arose from stupidity and love of life in that order. He should never have walked out of his office the way he did. He had just not thought. So when an employee had called him from the office to repair a broken machine, he had gone. The blonde took the payroll money that Mike left. Because he had not put the payroll money away first, Mike, the owner, was in trouble. Mike swore off blondes. APPENDIX B TREATMENT BY SUBJECT DESIGN APPENDIX B . Treatment Order: Foregrounded, left-embedded; foregrounded, right-embedded; inferred, right-embedded; backgrounded, left-embedded; inferred, left-embedded; and backgrounded, right- embedded Subject # Sentence Order 1 l,3,5,6,4,2 2 3.1.6.5,2,4 3 5, 6, 4, 2, 1, 3 4 6, 5, 2, 4, 3, l 5 4, 2, l, 3, 6, 5 6 2, 4, 3, l, 5, 6 Treatment Order: Foregrounded, right-embedded;backgrounded, left-embedded; foregrounded,left-embedded; backgrounded, right-embedded; inferred, right-embedded; inferred, left-embedded Subject # Sentence Order 7 3, 6, 4, 1, 5, 2 8 6, 5, l, 2, 4, 3 9 4, 3, 5, 6, 2, 1 10 l, 2, 6, 4, 3, 5 11 5’ l, 2' 3, 6' 4 12 2, 4, 3, 5, l, 6 --------------.---—-.-----n—-- Treatment Order: Backgrounded, left—embedded; backgrounded, right-embedded; foregrounded, right- embedded; inferred, left-embedded; fore- grounded, 1eft—embedded; inferred, right— embedded Subject # Sentence Order 13 5, 6, l, 2, 3, 4 l4 6, 5, 2, 4, l, 3 15 l, 2, 3, 5: 4: 5 16 2, 3, 4, 6, 5, l 17 3, 4, 6, l. 2. 5 18 4, l, 5, 3, 6, 2 111 112 Treatment Order: Backgrounded, right-embedded; inferred, left-embedded; backgrounded, left— embedded; inferred, rightnembedded; fore- grounded, right-embedded; foregrounded, left-embedded Subject # Sentence Order 19 6, 2, 5, 4, l, 3 20 2, 5, 6, 3, 4, 1 21 5, 6, 2, l, 3, 4 22 4, 3, l, 6, 2, 5 23 1, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6 24 3, l, 4, 5, 6, 2 Treatment Order: Inferred, left-embedded; inferred, right- embedded; backgrounded, right—embedded; foregrounded, left-embedded; backgrounded, left-embedded; foregrounded, right— embedded Subject # Sentence Order 25 5, 3, 6, 2, 4, l 26 3. 5, 2. 6. 1, 4 27 6, 1, 5. 4. 3. 2 28 2, 4, 3, l, 5, 6 29 4, 6, l, 3. 2. 5 3o 1. 2, 4. 5. 6. 3 Treatment Order: Inferred, right-embedded; foregrounded, left-embedded; inferred, left-embedded; foregrounded, right—embedded; back- grounded, right-embedded; backgrounded, left-embedded Subject # Sentence Order 31 2, l, 3, 4, 6, 5 32 1, 4, 2, 5, 3, 6 33 3, 5, 6, 1, 4, 2 34 4, 2, 5, 6, l, 3 35 6, 3, 4, 2, 5, l 36 5, 6, l, 3, 2, 4 APPENDIX C DIRECTIONS READ TO SUBJECTS BEFORE EXPERIMENT APPENDIX C You are going to be asked to read seven cards, one at a time, while your eye movements are being measured by this machine. 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