Advertisement

Memory & Cognition

, Volume 11, Issue 3, pp 262–274 | Cite as

Conceptual processing of text during skimming and rapid sequential reading

  • Michael E. J. Masson
Open Access
Article
First Online:

Abstract

Potential conceptual processing difficulties associated with abbreviating the duration of eye fixations during reading were explored using a rapid sequential visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm in which each word of a text was briefly presented (for as little as 86 msec) at a fixed location. Question answering and accuracy of summaries associated with RSVP were found to be inferior to performance obtained when subjects skimmed conventionally presented passages. RSVP performance was enhanced by inserting brief pauses between sentences. The pauses produced only minor changes in the perceptual characteristics of RSVP, but they probably allowed subjects to more readily process information that had been buffered in working memory. These results imply that eye fixation durations in conventional reading reflect the time constraints of conceptual processing operations (as well as constraints of planning and initiating eye movements), but also that these conceptual operations may be distributed over later fixations and even postponed until a syntactic boundary is reached.

Keywords

Fixation Duration Reading Rate Question Answering Conceptual Processing Presentation Duration 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Download to read the full article text

Reference Notes

  1. 1.
    Just, M. A., Carpenter, P. A., & Masson, M. E. J.What eye fixations tell us about speed-reading, skimming, and normal reading. Manuscript in preparation, 1983.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Masson, M. E. J., Carpenter, P. A., & Just, M. A.Comprehension of gist and details by speed-readers, skimmers, and normal readers. Manuscript in preparation, 1983.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Juola, J. F., Cocklin, T., Chen, H. -C., & Granaas, M.Effects of segment size and structure on reading RSVP text. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 1982.Google Scholar

References

  1. Aaronson, D., &Scarborough, H. S. Performance theories for sentence coding: Some quantitative models.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1977,16, 277–303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Arnold, D. C., &Tinker, M. A. The fixational pause of the eyes.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1939,15, 271–280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Bartlett, F. C. Remembering: A study in experimental and social psychology. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1932.Google Scholar
  4. Bransford, J. D., &Johnson, M. K. Contextual prerequisites for understanding: Some investigations of comprehension and recall.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1972,11, 717–726.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Chen, H. -C. Comprehension and memory in reading rapidserial presentations of text. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Kansas, 1982.Google Scholar
  6. Dooling, D. J., &Lachman, R. Effects of comprehension on retention of prose.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1971,88, 216–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Fischler, I., &Bloom, P. A. Rapid processing of the meaning of sentences.Memory & Cognition, 1980,8, 216–225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Gibson, E. J., &Levin, H. The psychology of reading. Cambridge: M.I.T. Press, 1975.Google Scholar
  9. Green, D. W., Mitchell, D. C., &Hammond, E. J. The scheduling of text integration processes in reading.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1981,33A, 455–464.Google Scholar
  10. Intraub, H. Rapid conceptual identification of sequentially presented pictures.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1981,7, 604–610.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Jarvella, R. J. Immediate memory and discourse processing. In G. H. Bower (Ed.),The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 13). New York: Academic Press, 1979.Google Scholar
  12. Juola, J. F., Ward, N., &McNamara, T. Visual search and reading rapid, serial presentations of letter strings, words, and text.Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 1982,111, 208–227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Just, M. A., &Carpenter, P. A. A theory of reading: From eye fixations to comprehension.Psychological Review, 1980,117, 329–354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Just, M. A., Carpenter, P. A., &Woolley, J. D. Paradigms and processes in reading comprehension.Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 1982,111, 228–238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Kieras, D. E. Initial mention as a signal to thematic content in technical passages.Memory & Cognition, 1980,8, 345–353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Kieras, D. E. The role of major referents and sentence topics in the construction of passage macrostructure.Discourse Processes, 1981,4, 1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Kintsch, W., &van Dijk, T. A. Toward a model of text comprehension and production.Psychological Review, 1978,85, 363–394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Masson, M. E. J. Cognitive processes in skimming stories.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 1982,8, 400–417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Miller, J. R., &Kintsch, W. Readability and recall of short prose passages: A theoretical analysis.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 1980,6, 335–354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Mitchell, D. C., &Green, D. W. The effects of context and content on immediate processing in reading.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1978,30, 609–636.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Ortony, A. Remembering, understanding, and representation.Cognitive Science, 1978,2, 53–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Perfetti, C. A., &Lesgold, A. M. Discourse comprehension and sources of individual differences. In M. A. Just & P. A. Carpenter (Eds.),Cognitive processes in comprehension. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum, 1977.Google Scholar
  23. Potter, M. C. Short-term conceptual memory for pictures. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 1976,2, 509–522.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Potter, M. C., Kroll, J. F., &Harris, C. Comprehension and memory in rapid sequential reading. In R. S. Nickerson (Ed.),Attention and performance VIII. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum, 1980.Google Scholar
  25. Poulton, E. C. Time for reading and memory.British Journal of Psychology, 1958,49, 230–245.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Poulton, E. C. Rapid reading.Journal of Documentation, 1963,19, 168–172.Google Scholar
  27. Rayner, K. The perceptual span and peripheral cues in reading.Cognitive Psychology, 1975,7, 65–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Rayner, K. Eye movements in reading and information processing.Psychological Bulletin, 1978,85, 618–660.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Rayner, K., Inhoff, A. W., Morrison, R. E., Swwiaczek, M. L., &Bertera, J. H. Masking of foveal and parafoveal vision during eye fixations in reading.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1981,7, 167–179.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Rayner, K., &McConkie, G. W. What guides a reader’s eye movements?Vision Research, 1976,16, 829–837.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Rayner, K.,&McConkie, G. W. Perceptual processes in reading: The perceptual spans. In A. S. Reber & D. L. Scarborough (Eds.),Toward a psychology of reading. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum, 1977.Google Scholar
  32. Rayner, K., &Pollatsek, A. Eye movement control during reading: Evidence for direct control.Quarterly Journal of experimental Psychology, 1981,33A, 351–373.Google Scholar
  33. Reed, A. V. Microcomputer display timing: Problems and solutions.Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation, 1979,11, 572–576.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Salthouse, T. A., &Ellis, C. L. Determinants of eye-fixation duration.American Journal of Psychology, 1980,93, 207–234.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Salthouse, T. A., Ellis, C. L., Diener, D. C., &Somberg, B. L. Stimulus processing during eye fixations.Journal of experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1981,7, 611–623.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Sticht, T. G. Comprehending reading at work. In M. A. Just & P. A. Carpenter (Eds.),Cognitive processes in comprehension. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum, 1977.Google Scholar
  37. Taylor, S. E. An evaluation of forty-one trainees who had recently completed the “Reading Dynamics” program. In E. P. Bliesmer & R. C. Staiger (Eds.),Eleventh yearbook of the National Reading Conference. Milwaukee: National Reading Conference, 1962.Google Scholar
  38. Thibadeau, R., Just, M. A., & Carpenter, P. A. A model of the time course and content of reading.Cognitive Science, in press.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Psychonomic Society, Inc. 1983

Authors and Affiliations

  • Michael E. J. Masson
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of PsychologyUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaCanada

Personalised recommendations