| Revision as of 05:15, 7 September 2004 editSronald (talk | contribs)4 edits Provided explanation of why faster readers often have significantly higher comprehension. Also provided more information on the "slower reader" and how they contrast to the speed reader.← Previous edit | Revision as of 05:32, 7 September 2004 edit undoSronald (talk | contribs)4 edits Clarification of the term "smooth eye moments" when describing a speed reader; reading is not actually done during the eye movement - it is done during the eye fixation phase.Next edit → | ||
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| #Reading more than one word at a time | #Reading more than one word at a time | ||
| Undisciplined eye movement is perhaps the largest stumbling block to speed reading. Often slow readers ''hop'' between each word, making slow careful eye movements, |
Undisciplined eye movement is perhaps the largest stumbling block to speed reading. Often slow readers ''hop'' between each word, making slow careful eye movements, reading only a few letters per fixation. Often, a single word may require a number of eye fixations for the slower reader. The slow reader will typically ''skip back'' and fixate on earlier parts of the sentence; this further confounds the reading rhythm. A speed reader has a smooth reading style, employs fewer eye fixations, and reads many more letters during each eye fixation. The maximum reading rate is also dependent on the reader's familiarity with the text; heavy technical documents require a speed reduction even for speed readers. | ||
| In general, reading employs various skills depending on the level of text and the intent behind the action. For example, if reading to obtain a general overview of a piece of text we might ''skim'', or alternatively, if searching for an important quote or piece of technical information (where full understanding isn't important) we might ''scan''. | In general, reading employs various skills depending on the level of text and the intent behind the action. For example, if reading to obtain a general overview of a piece of text we might ''skim'', or alternatively, if searching for an important quote or piece of technical information (where full understanding isn't important) we might ''scan''. | ||
Revision as of 05:32, 7 September 2004
Speed reading is the skill of reading and comprehending text at a high rate.
On the average, a person with a college-level education reads at around 300 words per minute, assuming that the material is not of a technical nature. On the other hand, the fastest readers can read more than a thousand words per minute.
A measurement of reading speed is meaningful only when combined with information on how much of the text was understood by the reader. It has been found that people with higher reading speeds also have higher comprehension. Even more surprisingly, a person usually improves their comprehension as well when they improve their reading speed.
The result of high speed camera / eye studies show that a speed reader can read and comprehend a sentence with far fewer eye movements and eye fixations. A slow reader must move / fixate their eyes up to five times as much as an excellent reader. The process of reading, for a slow reader, requires much more ocular work :- this can result in fatigue and takes considerable time to read the same amount of information. A slow reader must do considerably more work for smaller returns, they can easily become frustrated with the process of reading. Slower readers often read the bare minimum as reading is a unpleasant and difficult experience. The biggest hurdle of a slower reader is the time and effort it takes to absorb a sentence of information. Comprehension suffers because by the time the read a sentence they have expended so much effort over a much longer period of time, that they remember much less of the information. Speed reading is a learned discipline; the main secret being the elimination of poor reading habits or reading inhibitors that are commonplace in child and adult readers.
There are several factors that inhibit speed reading:
- Poor vocabulary
- Regression—going over the same material repeatedly.
- Word hopping—reading one word at a time
- Subvocalization—pronouncing the words in one's mind as one reads them
- Faulty perception—due to either faulty eye movement or slow perception time
Most casual readers can double or triple their reading speed by practicing speed reading.
Techniques for increasing the speed include the following:
- Having an eye checkup
- Not vocalizing as one reads—one thinks much faster than one speaks
- Not hopping back and forth—disciplining one's eye movements
- Reading more than one word at a time
Undisciplined eye movement is perhaps the largest stumbling block to speed reading. Often slow readers hop between each word, making slow careful eye movements, reading only a few letters per fixation. Often, a single word may require a number of eye fixations for the slower reader. The slow reader will typically skip back and fixate on earlier parts of the sentence; this further confounds the reading rhythm. A speed reader has a smooth reading style, employs fewer eye fixations, and reads many more letters during each eye fixation. The maximum reading rate is also dependent on the reader's familiarity with the text; heavy technical documents require a speed reduction even for speed readers.
In general, reading employs various skills depending on the level of text and the intent behind the action. For example, if reading to obtain a general overview of a piece of text we might skim, or alternatively, if searching for an important quote or piece of technical information (where full understanding isn't important) we might scan.
See also
External link
- [http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/suggest.html Suggestions for improving reading speed
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