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An investigation of determinants used in deciding fixation positions in reading of Japanese sentences

Research Project

Project/Area Number 10610081
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field 実験系心理学
Research InstitutionSakushin Gakuin University

Principal Investigator

MATSUDA Masayuki  Sakushin Gakuin University, Department of Business, Professor, 経営学部, 教授 (20219447)

Project Period (FY) 1998 – 2000
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2000)
Budget Amount *help
¥1,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥300,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥1,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000)
KeywordsJapanese sentences / reading / script type / eye movements / fixation position
Research Abstract

In this study, two experiments were conducted to investigate effects of script types on reading of Japanese sentences and determinants used in deciding fixation positions in reading of the sentences. In the experiments, the script types were varied as experimental variables, and reading times and eye movements were recorded. The results of the experiments revealed the followings.
1. Spaced hiragana sentences were read faster with fewer fixations and shorter gaze durations than unspaced sentences. In addition, first fixation positions in words of the spaced sentences were closer to the optimal viewing position than those of the unspaced sentences. These results suggested that spaces between words made syntactic parsing easier and were used as cues in deciding the first fixation positions in words in reading of hiragana sentences.
2. In reading of kanji-kana mixed sentences, effects of spacing were not found on the reading time and the measures of eye movements. Unspaced kanji-kana mixed sentences were read faster with fewer fixations and shorter gaze durations than unspaced hiragana sentences. In addition, kanji characters and/or hiragana characters next to kanji characters were fixated more frequently than hiragana characters next to hiragana characters in reading of kanji-kana mixed sentences. These results suggested that kanji characters made syntactic parsing easier and were used as cues in guiding the eye in reading of kanji-kana mixed sentences.
3. First fixation positions in words of hiragana sentences and of kanji-kana mixed sentences were closer to the beginnings of the words when the locations of prior fixations lay further to the left of the words. These and above mentioned results suggested that the fixation positions in reading of Japanese sentences were determined depending not only on low-level visual processes that detected spaces between words and kanji characters but also on the locations of the prior fixations.

Report

(4 results)
  • 2000 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1999 Annual Research Report
  • 1998 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (3 results)

All Other

All Publications (3 results)

  • [Publications] 松田真幸: "日本語文の読みにおける文節間空白の影響"基礎心理学研究. 19(印刷中). (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2000 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] MATSUDA, Masayuki: "The influence of information on reading of Japanese sentences"Japanese Journal of Psychonomic Science. 19-2 (in print). (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2000 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 松田真幸: "日本語文の読みにおける文節間空白の影響"基礎心理学研究. 19・2(印刷中). (2001)

    • Related Report
      2000 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1998-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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