Abstract
Just and Carpenter (1980) presented a theory of reading based on eye fixations wherein their “psycholinguistic” variables accounted for 72% of the variance in word gaze durations. This comment raises some statistical and theoretical problems with their use of simultaneous regression analysis of gaze duration measures and with the resulting theory of reading. A major problem was the confounding of perceptual with psycholinguistic factors. New eye fixation data are presented to support these criticisms. Analysis of fixations within words revealed that most gaze duration variance was contributed by number of fixations rather than by fixation duration.
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This research was supported by USPHS program Project Grant HDMHl1681-01A1, Richard Olson, coinvestigator. It is based on parts of the first authors thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MA degree at the University of Colorado.
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Kliegl, R., Olson, R.K. & Davidson, B.J. Regression analyses as a tool for studying reading processes: Comment on Just and Carpenters eye fixation theory. Memory & Cognition 10, 287–296 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197640
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197640