On forward inferences of fast and slow readers. An eye movement study

Abstract

Unimpaired readers process words incredibly fast and hence it was assumed that top-down processing, such as predicting upcoming words, would be too slow to play an appreciable role in reading. This runs counter the major postulate of the predictive coding framework that our brain continually predicts probable upcoming sensory events. This means, it may generate predictions about the probable upcoming word during reading (dubbed forward inferences). Trying to asses these contradictory assumptions, we evaluated the effect of the predictability of words in sentences on eye movement control during silent reading. Participants were a group of fluent (i.e., fast) and a group of speed-impaired (i.e., slow) readers. The findings indicate that fast readers generate forward inferences, whereas speed-impaired readers do so to a reduced extent - indicating a significant role of predictive coding for fluent reading.

Reanalyzing language expectations: Native language knowledge modulates the sensitivity to intervening cues during anticipatory processing

“…When they listen or read, native speakers can preactivate the phonological (DeLong et al, 2005), orthographic (Hawelka, Schuster, Gagl, & Hutzler, 2015), syntactic (Dikker, Rabagliati, Farmer, & Pylkkänen, 2010;Levy, 2008), and semantic (Altmann & Kamide, 1999;Kutas & Hillyard, 1984) properties of the input coming next. However, even if predictive processing (see Clark, 2013) during language comprehension has been widely studied, a comprehensive picture of this phenomenon is still far from being complete.…”

Fast and slow readers and the effectiveness of the spatial frequency content of text: Evidence from reading times and eye movements.

“…One possibility is that fast reading involves better use of predictive processes, such as parafoveal previews and sentence context (e.g., Hawelka, Schuster, Gagl, & Hutzler, 2015;Hersch & Andrews, 2012;Long, Oppy, & Seely, 1994;Murray & Burke, 2003). But many researchers have argued that fast reading is facilitated greatly by "bottom-up" processes which enable fast readers to gain visual access to the correct lexical representations more rapidly.…”

„Informationskompetenz – Informationsverhalten – Informationsverarbeitung“

“…21 Führe ich auch meine Kalkulationen ständig mit, was andere denken (mindreading), 22 und meine Voraussagen, wie sie wohl handeln 23 -und wie beeinflusst dies mein Verständnis der Aussagen anderer 24 oder mein Verständnis von Texten? 25 Wann kann ich mich darauf verlassen, dass andere entsprechend das für mich Relevante erkennen und mich informieren? Woher kann ich wissen, wann und worüber ich andere informieren muss?…”

“…B. der Frage, wie evidenzbasierte medizinische Leitlinien durch Rechercheprojekte entstehen. Unterfangen dürfte viel Zeit in Anspruch nehmen; durch analytischen Transfer aus Nachbardisziplinen wie dem Softwareengineering25 kann man sagen: Hier gibt es seit vielen Jahren Auseinandersetzungen über die Wahl der richtigen Methodik zur Entwicklung von Software, ohne dass es relativ viel belastbare Evidenz dafür gäbe. Gleichzeitig ist auch dort die Entwicklung in Richtung Evidenzbasiertheit trotz des damit verbundenen Aufwands im Gange 26.…”