Estimating the effect of word predictability on eye movements in Chinese reading using latent semantic analysis and transitional probability

Q J Exp Psychol (Hove). 2010 Jul;63(7):1374-86. doi: 10.1080/17470210903380814. Epub 2009 Dec 7.

Abstract

Latent semantic analysis (LSA) and transitional probability (TP), two computational methods used to reflect lexical semantic representation from large text corpora, were employed to examine the effects of word predictability on Chinese reading. Participants' eye movements were monitored, and the influence of word complexity (number of strokes), word frequency, and word predictability on different eye movement measures (first-fixation duration, gaze duration, and total time) were examined. We found influences of TP on first-fixation duration and gaze duration and of LSA on total time. The results suggest that TP reflects an early stage of lexical processing while LSA reflects a later stage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Asian People / psychology
  • Eye Movement Measurements
  • Eye Movements / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Probability*
  • Reading*
  • Semantics*
  • Students
  • Taiwan
  • Universities
  • Vocabulary*