The Psychology of Reading Developmental Reading Chapter 3

The Psychology of Reading Developmental Reading Chapter 3

The Psychology of Reading “A glimpse at the behavior of how you read. . . ”

What is Psychology? �Psychology is the science of human mind that directs to human behavior, thinking, and intellectual processes.

Eye Movements �Reading makes constant use of the eyes. Studies on eye movements show that the eyes should move rhythmically and regularly along the printed line if reading is to be effective.

�However, the eyes percieve printed words during a series pf pauses or fixations. �When the eyes stop at any given point along a line print, only five letters immediately around the fixation point are seen with 100 percent acuity.

�Vision is also reduced while the eyes are in motion; hence recognition is quite difficult when the eyes are moving. �Reading involves these eye movements: fixation, interfixation, return sweeps, and regression.

Fixation �Fixation is the vertical mark when the eyes stop and the film continues to move. Good readers have fewer fixations than poor readers.

Interfixation �Interfixation is the short horizontal line caused by the eyes which move from one stopping point to another.

Return Sweeps �Are long slanting lines resulting fthe quick swinging back of the eyes from one end of the line to the beginning of the next line.

Regressions �Regressions are backward or right-to- left movements made in a reverse direction.

Span of Recognition �Span of recognition or perception span is the number of words taken every time the eyes stop.

Duration of Fixation �Duration of fixation is the length of time the eyes pause.