The influence of parafoveal preprocessing and linguistic context on the optimal landing position effect

Abstract

Several experiments have shown the existence of an optimallanding position effect during isolated word recognition as weH as during text reading; both the probability of refixating the test word and the gaze duration are smaller if the eye first fixates near the center of the word than ifthe eye first fixates other positions in the word. However, recent data indicate that the optimal landing position effect is weakened under normal reading conditions, when words are included in texts. The purpose of the present experiment was to test whether parafoveal preprocessing or linguistic context specific to the text reading situation could be responsible for this weakening. With a paradigm that approximates normal reading, albeit in a somewhat slower manner, it was shown that although the possibility of preprocessing words in parafoveal vision and of predicting them from preceding context globaHy affected refixation probability and gaze duration on the word, this did not strongly affect the optimallanding position effect. Since the global effects of these factors were comparable to those found by other authors in normal reading, it was concludedthat the weakening ofthe optimallanding position effect during text reading results from the influence of other factors peculiar to this situation. Hypotheses are proposed as explanations of the effects of the manipulated factors on oculomotor behavior.In a number of recent experiments, the existence of an optimal landing position in words has been shown during isolated word recognition (Holmes & O'Regan, 1987;O'Regan, 1984O'Regan, , 1989O'Regan & Levy-Schoen, 1987; O'Regan, Levy-Schoen, Pynte, & Brugaillere, 1984). In these experiments the eye's initial fixation position in the word was manipulated, and it was observed that if the eye first fixated near the middle of the word, the probability of refixating the word and, consequently, the gaze duration (the total time the eye spent on the word) were smaller than they were when the eye first fixated other positions in the word. Individual fixation durations were also shown to depend on the eye's first fixation position in the word as well as on within-word tactics (whether one, two, or more fixations were made within the word).On the basis ofthese results, O'Regan and Levy-Schoen (1987) and O'Regan (1990) have suggested that withinword tactics during text reading may be determined by a preestablished program based on the eye's initial landing position. That is, if the eye lands in a region that is generally optimal (near the word's rniddle), the eye would directly leave the word, and, on the contrary, if the eye lands at a nonoptimal position, it would refixate the word before leaving it. Individual fixation durations would de- pend on the tactics adopted on the word and also on the eye's first fixation position in the word.Results from recent experiments seem to favor this hypothesis, since they have confirmed the existence of an optimal landing position for words included in texts (McConkie, Kerr, Reddix, Zola, & Jacobs, 1989; ...

Eye movements in reading and information processing: 20 years of research.

“…Nazir, 1991Nazir, , 1993Nazir, Heller, & Sussmann, 1992;Nazir, O'Regan, & Jacobs, 1991;; O'Regan, L6vy-Schoen, Pynte,& Brugaill&e, 1984;G. Underwood, Clews, & Wilkinson, 1989;Vitu, 1991cVitu, , 1993Vitu & O'Regan, 1988Vitu et al, 1990). For words presented in isolation, two general effects have been found.…”

“…E Ehrlich & Rayner, 1981;Rayner & Well, 1996;Schustack, Ehrlich, & Rayner, 1987;Vitu, 1991c). There is also some evidence to suggest that high-frequency words are skipped more than lowfrequency words, particularly if the eyes are close to the target word on the fixation prior to skipping (Radach & Kempe, 1993;.…”

Optimal viewing position in vertically and horizontally presented Japanese words

“…Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to N. Kajii, Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan (e-mail: kajii@kupsy.kyoto-u.ac.jp). Reddix, Zola, & Jacobs, 1989; O'Regan et aL, 1984; Radach & Kempe, 1993; Rayner, Sereno, & Raney, 1996;Underwood, Clews, & Everatt, 1990;Vitu, 1991; Vitu, O'Regan, & Mittau, 1990). In addition, it should be noted that the preferred viewing location (Rayner, 1979), the position within the word at which the eye lands most frequently in reading, is also around the center of the word.…”

Actes du Symposium international sur la litéracie à l’école = International Symposium for Educational Literacy (SILE/ISEL)

“…In adult skilled readers of left-to-right reading languages, the PVL stands a little to the left of the center of the word, between the beginning and the middle of the word, and tends to be closer to the center in shorter words (e.g., McConkie, Kerr, Reddix, & Zola, 1988;McConkie, Kerr, Reddix, Zola, & Jacobs, 1989;O'Regan & Jacobs, 1992;O'Regan & Lévy-Schoen, 1987;O'Regan, Lévy-Schoen, Pynte, & Brugaillère, 1984;Rayner, 1979;Vitu, 1991). Many studies have shown that with an initial fixation on this area, word identification improves, requiring less time, while the probability of refixation is reduced.…”