Title: Rapid serial visual presentation: degradation of inferential reading comprehension as a function of speed

Authors: Francesco Di Nocera; Orlando Ricciardi; James F. Juola

Addresses: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy ' Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy ' Department of Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: There is increasing interest in the readability of text presented on small digital screens. Designers have come up with novel text presentation methods, such as moving text from right to left, line-stepping, or showing successive text segments such as phrases or single words in a RSVP format. Comparative studies have indicated that RSVP is perhaps the best method of presenting text in a limited space. We tested the method using 209 participants divided into six groups. The groups included traditional reading, and RSVP reading at rates of 250, 300, 350, 400, and 450 wpm. No significant differences were found in comprehension for normal reading and RSVP reading at rates of 250, 300 and 350 wpm. However, higher rates produced significantly lower comprehension scores. It remains to be determined if, with additional practice and improved methods, good levels of reading comprehension at high rates can be achieved with RSVP.

Keywords: reading; rapid serial visual presentation; RSVP; comprehension; optimal speed rate; Spritz.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2018.096118

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2018 Vol.5 No.4, pp.293 - 303

Received: 15 Mar 2018
Accepted: 25 Jun 2018

Published online: 12 Nov 2018 *

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