The final product of text comprehension is a mental representation that reflects the overall meaning of the written text, which is termed “the situation model.” When new information is input from the text, it is integrated with the existing representation and prior knowledge. As a result, the representation is updated to incorporate the newly encoded information. However, if the new information renders past knowledge inaccurate or unreliable, readers need to modify the knowledge stored in their memory. This paper focuses on the process by which a coherent representation of the situation described in the text is constructed. First, I provide an overview of the major theoretical frameworks related to the construction of a situation model, and then discuss the RI-Val model and event-centered theory as advanced theories for updating the situation model. Second, I discuss issues related to the verification process, including the outdating of old information, failure to verify text information, and the revision of existing knowledge. Finally, I address remaining issues and future developments.
