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- Volume 4, Issue, 2014
Scientific Study of Literature - Volume 4, Issue 2, 2014
Volume 4, Issue 2, 2014
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Do fiction writers have superior perspective taking ability?
Author(s): Theanna Bischoff and Joan Peskinpp.: 125–149 (25)More LessIn investigating the relationship between fiction writing and perspective taking, beliefs about the ability of fiction writers to correctly infer the mental states of others were assessed via survey, in comparison to other professions. Next, two groups of fiction writers (established and intermediate) and a control group were compared across different measures of perspective taking. Possible moderating variables such as age, verbal intelligence, depressive symptoms, and fiction reading were measured. Participants provided writing samples, which were scored for quality. Analyses revealed that the general public believes fiction writers demonstrate above-average perspective-taking ability; however, empirical tests revealed no significant between-group differences on the outcome measures, nor any relationship between fiction writing quality and any outcome measures. The results of the suggest that fiction writers are no better than similar individuals who do not write fiction in terms of their ability to infer others’ mental states or take their perspectives.
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Lost in an iPad: Narrative engagement on paper and tablet
Author(s): Anne Mangen and Don Kuikenpp.: 150–177 (28)More LessThe purpose of this study was to examine the effects of reading medium and a paratext manipulation on aspects of narrative engagement. In a 2 (medium: booklet vs. iPad) by 2 (paratext: fiction vs. nonfiction) between-subjects factorial design, the study combined state oriented measures of narrative engagement and a newly developed measure of interface interference. Results indicated that, independently of prior experience with reading on electronic media, readers in the iPad condition reported dislocation within the text and awkwardness in handling their medium. Also, iPad readers who believed they were reading nonfiction were less likely to report narrative coherence and transportation, while booklet readers who believed they were reading nonfiction were, if anything, more likely to report narrative coherence. Finally, booklet (but not iPad) readers were more likely to report a close association between transportation and empathy. Implications of these findings for cognitive and emotional engagement with textual narratives on paper and tablet are discussed.
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From “compelling and mystical” to “makes you want to commit suicide”: Quantifying the spectrum of online reader responses
Author(s): Megan Milotapp.: 178–195 (18)More LessThe exploration of what makes a story interesting remains a popular topic in narrative theory. This study aims to contribute to the study of narrative interest by analyzing of a corpus of online amateur reviews of Marilynne Robinson’s debut novel Housekeeping from Amazon.com, Goodreads.com, and Librarything.com. The expectation is that, even on these vast, fluid social networking sites, there will still be patterns in the content of reviews, indicating evolving or established positioning strategies and practices. This study presents a viable, replicable method for quantifying what this particular group of amateur critics value in a text, thereby arriving at a deeper understanding of online review forums and the people who use them.
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Amazing but true: A preference for fiction-like non-fiction
Author(s): Jonathan D. Leavitt, Arseny A. Ryazanov and Nicholas J.S. Christenfeldpp.: 196–210 (15)More LessPeople find it important to know if a story is factual, but still the most popular stories, in such forms as books and movies, are fictional. Research suggests that a story being true may add value to the reader’s experience, but other findings suggest that fiction may increase enjoyment by providing fewer disruptions to narrative comprehension. In three studies we explored the appeal of stories when they are presented as fiction or as non-fiction. Subjects read (1) story synopses, (2) vignettes from two popular websites, or (3) narratives on relationships and war. Results indicate that readers preferred stories when they were presented, externally, as non-fiction. Readers also preferred stories that seemed internally — that is, because of how they were written — like fiction. Additionally the results suggested that readers rely more heavily on factual stories to update their notions of reality. This study contributes to a body of literature on reader enjoyment in relation to truth labels made explicit or implicit in narratives as well as on the efficacy of arts-based research.
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In the eye of the recipient: Pupillary responses to suspense in literary classics
Author(s): Katrin Riese, Mareike Bayer, Gerhard Lauer and Annekathrin Schachtpp.: 211–232 (22)More LessPlot suspense is one of the most important components of narrative fiction that motivate recipients to follow fictional characters through their worlds. The present study investigates the dynamic development of narrative suspense in excerpts of literary classics from the 19th century in a multi-methodological approach. For two texts, differing in suspense as judged by a large independent sample, we collected (a) data from questionnaires, indicating different affective and cognitive dimensions of receptive engagement, (b) continuous ratings of suspense during text reception from both experts and lay recipients, and (c) registration of pupil diameter as a physiological indicator of changes in emotional arousal and attention during reception. Data analyses confirmed differences between the two texts at different dimensions of receptive engagement and, importantly, revealed significant correlations of pupil diameter and the course of suspense over time. Our findings demonstrate that changes of the pupil diameter provide a reliable ‘online’ indicator of suspense.
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