What does top-down processing in reading imply?

Top-down processing in reading refers to the cognitive approach where understanding begins with the reader's background knowledge and the context of the material, allowing them to interpret and make sense of complete units of meaning. This means that rather than starting with the individual letters or words, readers employ their existing knowledge, experiences, and expectations to comprehend the information presented as a whole.

This concept emphasizes that context and prior knowledge significantly influence how readers decode and understand text. By using this holistic approach, readers are more capable of grasping the author's intended message without having to focus solely on the mechanics of reading, such as letter recognition or vocabulary memorization. Hence, the focus is on integrating concepts into a cohesive understanding, which aligns perfectly with the idea of processing complete units first.