The cognitive representation of filmic event summaries

The present study compared two types of film summaries and a complete film event portrayal of two different event sequences, measuring their perceived structure during presentation and the subsequent ability to recall them. The summaries were based on the model of behavioural perception (Newtson & Engquist, 1976; Zacks & Tversky, 2001) and either retained the borders (breakpoints) or the middle parts (non‐breakpoints) of each segment of the event sequence. It was found that breakpoint‐keeping summaries were perceived to be more structured and were recalled more coherently and comprehensively than non‐breakpoint‐keeping summaries. On the other hand, breakpoint‐keeping summaries were not recalled any more completely than event portrayals that had not been shortened. Also, breakpoint‐keeping summaries showed only moderate overlap in their recalled event steps. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.