Abstract
A computer-based eye-movement controlled, display system was developed for the study of perceptual processes in reading. A study was conducted to identify the region from which skilled readers pick up various types of visual information during a fixation while reading. This study involved making display changes, based on eye position, in the text pattern as the subject was in the act of reading from it, and then examining the effects these changes produced on eye behavior. The results indicated that the subjects acquired word-length pattern information at least 12 to 15 character positions to the right of the fixation point, and that this information primarily influenced saccade lengths. Specific letter- and word-shape information were acquired no further than 10 character positions to the right of the fixation point.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Reference Note
McConkie. G. W., & Rayner. K. Identifying the span of the effective stimulus in reading. Final Report OEG2-71-0531. US Office of Education. 1974. This report is available from ERIC Document Reproduction Service.
References
Bouma, H. Visual recognition of isolated lower-case lettersVision Research, 1971,11.459–474
Bouma, H. Visual interference in the parafoveal recognition of initial and final letters of words.Vision Research. 1973,13. 707–782.
Bouma, H., &DeVoogd, A. H. On the control of eye saccades in readingVisum Research. 1974,14, 273–284.
Haber, R. N., &Hershenson, M.The psychology of visual perception New York: Holt. Rinehart & Winston, 1973.
Hochberg, J Components of literacy Speculations and exploratory research. In H. Levin and J. P. Williams (Eds.)Basic studies on reading New York. Basic Books. 1970
Hodgf, D. C. Legibility of a uniform-stroke width alphabet I Relative legibility of upper and lower-case letters.Journal of Engineering Psychology. 1962,1, 34–46,
Hufy, E B. The psychology and pedagogy of reading. New York. Macmillan. 1908
Mackworth, H H. Visual noise causes tunnel visionPsychonomic Science. 1965,3, 67–68.
Newman, E. B Speed of reading when the span of letters is restrictedAmerican Journal of Psychology. 1966,79, 272–278.
Poulton, E. C. Peripheral vision, refractoriness and eye movements in last oral reading.British Journal of Psychology. 1962,53, 409–419.
Rayner, K The perceptual span and peripheral cues in reading.Cognitive Psychology. 1975,7, 65–81.
Reder, S. M. On-line monitoring of eye position signals in contingent and noncontingent paradigms.Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation. 1973,5, 218–228.
Smith, F.Understanding reading New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1971
Woodworth, R. SExperimental psychology New York Holt. 1938
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The research described in this report was earned out at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The research was made possible by a Special Fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health to the senior author and by Grant OEG-2-71-0531 from the Office of Education. Portions of these data were reported at the 1973 meetings of the Eastern Psychological Association and the American Educational Research Association.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McConkie, G.W., Rayner, K. The span of the effective stimulus during a fixation in reading. Perception & Psychophysics 17, 578–586 (1975). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03203972
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03203972