Factors Affecting the Readability of Moving Text on a Computer Display

Abstract

In two experiments text was horizontally advanced in discrete jumps of one or several characters at a time along a single line on a computer-controlled screen (i.e., the leading text display format). Experiment 1 showed that when the display rate was relatively fast or when the window size was relatively small, jump lengths of five character spaces resulted in higher comprehension than did one- or nine-character jump conditions. In Experiment 2 the text display rate was under either experimenter or subject control; results showed that permitting the subject to control the rate of text presentation did not improve reading comprehension. However, when the rate of text presentation was under the control of the subject, reading efficiency (Rate x Comprehension) improved with practice.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Aaronson, D. (1984). Computer methods and ecological validity in reading research. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, and Computers, 16, 102–108.

Chen, H.C. (1986). Effects of reading span and textual coherence on rapid-sequential reading. Memory and Cognition, 14, 202–208.

Chen, H.C. Healy, A. F. , and Bourne, L. E. Jr. (1985). Effects of presentation complexity on rapid-sequential reading. Perception and Psychophysics, 38, 461–470.

Duchnicky, R. L. , and Kolers, P. A. (1983). Readability of text scrolled on visual display terminals as a function of window size. Human Factors, 25, 683–692.

Granaas, M. M. McKay, T. D. Laham, R. D. Hurt, L. D. , and Juola, J. F. (1984). Reading moving text on a CRT screen. Human Factors, 26, 97–104.

Jackson, M. D. , and McClelland, J. L. (1979). Processing determinants of reading speed. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 108, 151–181.

Juola, J. F. Ward, N. , and McNamara, T. (1982). Visual search and reading of rapid, serial presentations of letter strings, words, and text. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 111, 228–238.

LaBerge, D. , and Samuels, S. (1974). Toward a theory of automatic information processing in reading. Cognitive Psychology, 6, 293–323.

McCall, W. A. , and Crabbs, L. M. (1950, 1961). Standard test lessons in reading. New York: Teachers' College Press.

10.

Monk, A. F. (1984). Reading continuous text from a one-line visual display. International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 21, 269–277.

11.

Monk, A. F. (1985). Reading character-stepped text. Acta Psychologica, 58, 173–189.

12.

Potter, M. C. (1984). Rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP): A method for studying language processing. In D. E. Kieras and M. A. Just (Eds.), New methods in reading comprehension research (pp. 91–118). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

13.

Sekey, A. , and Tietz, J. (1982). Text display by “saccadic scrolling.” Visible Language, 16, 62–76.