Grouping the studies under the general topic headings of techniques of measurement, analysis of the reading process, training to improve eye movements, typography and eye movements, and eye movements and fatigue the author reviews the relevant research literature which has appeared since January, 1945. In general there has been a dimunition of interest in this area. However, there has appeared a large amount of work on visual fixation, speed of eye movements, reaction time of the eye, oculomotor efficiency, and vision during eye movements. There is a need for more basic research. 72-item bibliography.

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The time taken for fixational pauses plus that for eye movements yields the total reading time of any selection. Erdmann and Dodge (i) first called attention to the fact that a very large proportion of the total reading time is devoted to fixational pauses. They also found that if a printed line passed by a window at the speed of I cm. in .01 sec, which is about the speed of saccadic eye movements employed in reading, one did not perceive the material well enough to read it. This led them to the conclusion that perception in reading occurs only during the fixational pauses; we do not pay attention to the visual sensations produced during the accompanying eye movements. In later studies with an improved technique, Dodge (2, 3) showed that there is no clear vision during saccadic * eye movements. He also pointed out that the unclear visual sensations received during eye movements in reading are not attended to and therefore are not perceived. Inasmuch as time of perception is fixational pause time the latter has received most of the attention in many investigations of reading. The purpose of this study 2 is twofold: (1) to furnish new data on the extent and duration of eye movements in reading; (2) to show the variation in the ratio between eye movement duration and total reading time in various kinds of material. Some of the reasons for this variation will be stressed.The first determination of velocity of saccadic eye movements was made by Volkmann (11) in 1846. His results, as 1 The rapid, sweeping movements of the eye occurring in moving from one fixation to another in the visual field are called saccadic because of their nature. They are best illustrated in reading. Comparatively long fixations alternate with the moves. 1 The data for this study were collected at Stanford University in the spring of 1927. * Professor Dodge was one of the subjects in both experiments. 1 Not shown in table.

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advertising, and printing experts exhibit keen interest in the problem of the relative legibility of various styles of type. In discussing the general problem of the influence of typographical factors on speed of reading with such experts, the writers have been impressed by the fact that attention is so frequently directed to the question of type faces with relative neglect of the problem of size, width of line, leading, etc. It would appear that competition between various families of type faces results in rival claims and counter claims. Absence of definite facts tends to perpetuate such a state of affairs. It is obvious that experiments on the relative legibility of type faces are needed in order to determine the merits of the claims advanced by partisan advocates. REVIEW OP LITERATUREIn view of the general importance of the problem it is surprising to find that only three major experiments * The writers are indebted to the following 1 for aid in conducting this study: Educational Test Bureau, Minneapolis, Minn., for permission to reprint the Chapman-Cook Speed of Reading Tests, Forms A and B, for experimental purposes; and the University of Minnesota Graduate School for research grant.