Effects of Presentation Speed on Comprehension of Computer-Presented Text

Abstract

100 students in introductory psychology served as subjects in an experiment designed to assess the effects of various speeds of presenting text on reading comprehension. A computer was used to present textual material of varying difficulty levels to four groups of students via CRT terminals. Presentation speeds were 110, 300, 600, or 1200 baud (11—120 characters per sec.). A fifth group of students was presented the textual material printed on sheets of paper. An analysis of variance indicated that differences in text difficulty were quite reliable whereas the presentation speed did not have a reliable effect on reading comprehension.