Abstract: This research revised the design of Radvansky’s study(1997)and used the fan-effect paradigmto investigatethe factors affectingthe construction of situation models. Four experiments were administered. Sswere 180 university students. The experiment materials included two types of sentence patterns of ownership relation. Each had three fan levels. Sswere asked to recognize and react with push-button as quickly as possible the sentences which were presented with the computer one by one. The reaction time that Ssreacted the different types of sentences at different fan levels was analyzed with multivariate analysis of variance(MANOVA).In Experiment 1, the experiment made by Radvanskyin 1997 was repeated by using the Chinese materials. In Experiment 2, it was studied whether under the circumstance with the clear and equal spatial-frame the integration of the sentences of“multiple personsbuy a single object" condition would show the fan effect. And Experiment 3 looked into whether the integration of sentences of "multiple personsbuy a single object" condition would show the fan effect when the information unfolded in forward direction. At last, Experiment 4 studied whether under the circumstance with the equal spatial-temporal frame the information of both condition, the "multiple persons have asingle object" condition and "a single personhas multiple objects" condition, would show the fan effect. The results indicated: 1.When the clear spatial information was given or the information was unfolded in forward direction, the integration of sentences of "multiple personsbuy a single object" condition didn't show any fan effect. 2.When equal spatial-temporal information was given, the integration of sentences of"multiple personshave a single object" condition didn't show any fan effect either. These results differed from those of Radvansky. This research indicated that the construction of situation model of abstract ownership relations were affected by the character of the verb, spatial-temporal frame and the direction of the unfolding of information.

Key words: situation model, fan effect, ownership relations