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.
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The research described in this paper was supported in part by Grant HD18116 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
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McConkie, G.W., Kerr, P.W., Reddix, M.D. et al. Eye movement control during reading: II. Frequency of refixating a word. Perception & Psychophysics 46, 245–253 (1989). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208086
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208086