Do Speed Reading Apps & Techniques Really Work? - College Info Geek

TL;DR

Speed reading techniques that claim to increase reading speeds by enlarging fixations, eliminating sub-vocalizations, and using Rapid Serial Visual Processing have been debunked by research.

Transcript

What's up, guys? Welcome to the second video in my little series on speed reading. Now if you missed the first video, you can watch it right there. But that one went over the science of how the reading process actually works. Both how our eyes move and fixate on text and how our brain constantly pauses to process that incoming informat... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔸 Fixations in reading are small, and comprehension is limited to text falling within the foveal range or just outside of it.
• 🗣️ Sub-vocalization, the brain speaking the words aloud inside the head, helps in understanding words visually.
• 😘 RSVP techniques prevent regressions and flood the brain with text, leading to lower comprehension levels.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is it true that some speed readers can process the entire page's text inside their head all at once?

While some individuals claim to have this ability, the 1962 study that reported a person reading at 10,000 words per minute with only six fixations did not measure comprehension. Following the lines of text is crucial for good reading comprehension.

Q: Can eliminating sub-vocalization increase reading speeds?

Research shows that sub-vocalization plays an important role in understanding words visually. Even if not reading aloud, the brain sends signals to vocal cords, indicating that suppressing sub-vocalization is unlikely to speed up reading.

Q: Do Rapid Serial Visual Processing (RSVP) techniques improve reading speeds?

While RSVP apps show each word in rapid succession, they present every word in a reading, straining working memory and preventing regressions. This lack of regression ability and flooding of text at a constant rate hinders comprehension.

Q: Are there any speed reading techniques that actually work?

There are various speed reading techniques, but many have not undergone rigorous scientific research. One technique called BeeLine is of interest, but more research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Enlarging fixations and reading in peripheral vision does not improve comprehension, as good reading comprehension can only be achieved when people follow the lines.

• Eliminating sub-vocalization is unlikely to increase reading speeds, as the brain accesses the sounds of words to understand them.

• Rapid Serial Visual Processing (RSVP) techniques present each word in rapid succession, overwhelming working memory and preventing regressions, leading to lower comprehension levels.