Whereas propositions focused on lower-level understanding that would be built up, schema theory
provided a top-down view of understanding. Although propositions could explain understanding in terms of basic units of understanding, it did very little to explain the advantages of prior knowledge. Rarely are we forced to interpret new information or situations that are so foreign that previous knowledge does not play a large role. Proponents of schema theory have pointed
out that a very large proportion of situations we encounter are actually routine in nature. These routines can be expressed as schemas, which are scripts or templates for understanding. Although the details and exceptions can be numerous, the concept of schema provided an essential top-down unifying structure and reflected the pattern-seeking behavior of individuals.
When presented with novel situations, it is not uncommon for learners to attempt to make the information fit a preexisting schema.