EFFECTS OF TEXT STRUCTURE ON THE IMPACT OF HEARD NEWS

In two experiments, audio re-recordings of texts transcribed from tele vision newscasts were presented to independent groups, one group in ea ch case hearing a 'bulletin' with original text structures (as broadca st), the other with key stories revised in accord with story-grammar n otions and restoring chronological sequence in the narrative. In Exper iment 1 the middle item in a three-story bulletin was subjected to tex t structure manipulation. After hearing the bulletin, subjects were qu estioned on information in the texts. In Experiment 2, subjects heard two stories with original or restructured text. In addition to being t ested for retention they also rated for bias and quality of writing. T ext restructuring improved learning in both studies, especially of inf ormation central to the main points of stories. In Experiment 2, such text revision also affected judgements of bias without altering assess ment of writing quality. It is suggested that attention to assuring mo re coherent story structures in newscast texts could counter the probl ems of poor comprehension and perceived bias on the part of audiences which result from current production priorities and practices.