Abstract

In this study, three different story-structures(goal-embedded. sequential and discontinuous structures) were employed. In Experiment I, the free-generation of inference showed that forward inference was more frequent with goal-embedded stories while backward inference occured more with sequential and discontinuous stories. In Experiment II, the reading time was shown to be shorter in the order of for goal-embedded, sequential, discontinuous stories, and to be fast with initiating event and goal than attempts and consequence categories in sequential and discontinuous stories. In Experiment III, the sentence verification results showed RT and error rates increased in the order of goal-embedded. sequential, discontinuous stories, and RT was slower for initial ting event and goal than for attempt and outcome calories. These results indicate that goal-embedded story structures are preferable to others in constructing the macro structure of a story, and that the macro structure permits an easier matching with knowledges to enable us to make forwoard inferences which facilitate discourse processing.