Abstract

A series of experimental studies focusing on the relationship between working memory and text comprehension are analysed. Daneman and Carpenter (1980) reported a correlation between a working memory test, the Reading Span Test, and text comprehension tasks; several later studies replicated such a correlation. Theoretical and experimental validity of the four most important hypotheses about the relationship between text comprehension and working memory (RST) - efficiency of general processing, strategic knowledge and control, structural aspects of memory system (capacity or available resources), and efficiency of inibitory mechanisms - is discussed.