ERIC Number: ED222870
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1982
Pages: 18
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Effect of All-Capital vs. Regular Mixed Print, as Presented on a Computer Screen, on Reading Rate and Accuracy.
Henney, Maribeth
Two related studies were conducted to determine whether students read all-capital text and mixed text displayed on a computer screen with the same speed and accuracy. Seventy-seven college students read M. A. Tinker's "Basic Reading Rate Test" displayed on a PLATO computer screen. One treatment consisted of paragraphs in all-capital type followed by paragraphs in mixed type, then single sentences in capital type followed by sentences in mixed type. In the other treatment, paragraphs still preceded sentences, but regular mixed type preceded all-capital type. Subjects were asked to touch the screen at the word that did not make sense, with response time and accuracy recorded by the computer. In the second study, 47 sixth grade students followed the same experimental design on an Apple II Plus microcomputer, with response time and accuracy measured with a stop watch. The results of the two studies indicated that college students were able to read text written in mixed print faster but less accurately than that written in all capital letters. Sixth graders did not perform differently with either type of print. The differences in accuracy of response between capital and mixed print for both college and sixth grade students indicate a need to consider accuracy as well as response time when testing reading and raise the question of whether speed or accuracy is more important for today's reading demands. (HTH)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A