Abstract
An analysis of over 40,000 eye fixations made by college students during reading indicates that the frequency of immediately refixating a word following an initial eye fixation on it varies with the location ofthat fixation. The refixation frequency is lowest near the center of the word, posi-tively accelerating with distance from the center. The data are well fit by a parabolic function. Assuming that refixation frequency is related to the frequency of successful word identification, the observed curvilinear relation results naturally from models that postulate a linear decrease in visual information with retinal eccentricity. A single letter difference in fixation location in a word can make a sizeable difference in the likelihood of refixating that word. The effects of word length and cultural frequency on the frequency of refixating are also examined.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 245-253 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Perception & Psychophysics |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1989 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Sensory Systems
- Psychology(all)