Abstract

This review aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of different spectrums of comprehension processes that account for various reading situations. More specifically, this review sheds light on how readers approach and comprehend traditional texts and hypertexts by examining the reading comprehension models in both reading environments. To this end, three prominent comprehension models were reviewed with reference to reading traditional texts: the bottom-up model, the top-down model, and the interactive model. On the other hand, four prominent comprehension models were reviewed with reference to reading hypertexts: Kintsch’s and Van Dijk’s model, the construction–integration (C–I) model, the text and graphics model, and the navigation, integration and evaluation model.