Authors:
Angele, Bernhard, bangele1@nebrija.es, Nebrija University
Gunes Ozkan, Zeynep, zeynep.ozkan@uv.es, University of Valencia
Serrano Carot, Marina. maserrca@uv.es, Nebrija University
Andoni Duñabeitia, Jon, jdunabeitia@nebrija.es, Nebrija University
Keywords: eye-tracking, reading, sampling rate, word frequency effect
Abstract:
Eye-movement research has revolutionized our understanding of reading, but the use of eyetracking techniques is still limited to only a few countries in the world. Publication statistics from the last 25 years show that most publications on eye-movements during reading have authors based in Western countries. We argue that eye-tracking is the ideal technique for reading and language research in countries with limited resources, and that it is crucially important to not just study a small subset of languages, but that more needs to be done to make eye-tracking technology accessible for researchers in those countries. This includes evaluating to what extent cognitive processes during reading can be measured with less expensive eye-tracking devices, especially in terms of local, word-based measures. One such way may be to use devices with a lower sampling rate, which may be much less expensive than high-sampling rate eye-trackers. We present findings from a study with 32 participants (university students, mean age 22.3) that recorded readers’ eye movements during reading at different sampling rates (250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz as well as simulated sampling rates of 125 Hz, 50 Hz, and 31.25 Hz). Our results show that it is possible to measure the classic effect of a target word frequency manipulation on fixation time measures such as first fixation duration, gaze duration, and total viewing time, reflecting ongoing processing during reading, even at sampling rates of 250 Hz and less. In particular, the effect of frequency on gaze duration and total viewing time was clearly evident even at 31.25 Hz, suggesting that, in principle, even devices with very low sampling rates can be used to study reading.