An Experimental Comparison of Two Reinterpretation Strategies: Benefits and Challenges of Using Fictional Contexts in Experimental Studies

Abstract

The paper presents an experimental investigation of two different reinterpretation mechanisms using fictional contexts. First, we discuss the results of a rating study suggesting that fictional contexts allow for certain reinterpretation strategies that non-fictional contexts do not allow for. We also report on a follow-up self-paced reading study whose results are less clear. We hypothesize that the mixed results we observe are due to the fictional material. We discuss some methodological implications for future experimental research making use of fictional contexts.