Memory for goal-directed events

Abstract

A series of experiments on comprehension and memory of common goal-directed events was carried out. Empirically based Plan schemata for two videotaped events were derived by asking subjects which actions were done "in order to" do other actions. An experiment on memory for videotaped events found a hierarchical pattern of recall and that the recall of goal-directed actions was superior to that of non-goal-directed actions, supporting the hypothesis that Plan schemata are used in the recall of events. An additional experiment showed that the temporal order of actions in observed events is reconstructed from the underlying Plan schema. A parallel series of recall experiments was carried out using prose descriptions of the videotaped events. Results replicated the earlier studies, suggesting that the recall of narrative prose is largely determined by the Plan schema of the underlying events.