Why speed reading doesn't work

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Most of us read between 150 and 250 words per minute. Speed reading increases these volumes by 3-4 times. But is there any sense in this?

Proponents of speed reading have many stories to tell about the benefits of this skill. I will cite one of the most striking examples.

In 2007, Englishwoman Anne Jones, six-time world speed reading champion, read a fresh book about the adventures of Harry Potter in 47 minutes. So she was absorbing about 4,200 words per minute. Anne then briefly described the novel for the British media (and for good reason). A grandmaster result, which was then envied by millions of people all over the world: they had to satisfy their curiosity all night and the next day too.

But is everything as straightforward as it seems at first glance? Before answering this question, it is worth going over the theory.

How we read

Reading is a methodical mechanical process if a person reads for pleasure and does not waste time thinking about complex and unfamiliar concepts. This is how it happens …

You are looking at a word or a word or two. This is called a commit and takes approximately 0.25 seconds. Then you move your eyes to the next word or group of words. This is called a jump and takes an average of 0.1 seconds. After several such repetitions, you pause to understand the phrase you just read. This takes about 0.3-0.5 seconds. And so in a circle. As a result, we find that the average Russian native speaker masters about 200 words per minute.

Speed reading reduces the duration of delays and their number, due to which the speed increases.

Speed reading techniques

Among the basic techniques of speed reading, there are four of the most common.

With the method runaway the person evaluates areas of the text and highlights important parts of them. Despite the fact that this approach is ranked among the methods of speed reading, you do not learn to read faster, but practice in finding pieces of text that you can jump over.
With the method excluding regressions a person leads his eyes along the lines with a certain rhythm with the help of a pen (or without it), thereby eliminating the involuntary return and re-reading of phrases.
With the method expansion of peripheral vision a person covers a larger volume of text in one eye contact, reducing the number of translations of the gaze. An additional benefit of this technique is that it reduces eye strain.
With the method quick visual sequence the entire text is split into separate words, which, one by one, flash at high speed in the middle of the screen of any electronic device. No eye movement occurs at all.

What's wrong with speed reading

Speed reading is good at seeing at least 1,000 words per minute. Nevertheless, it is impossible to truly understand the bulk of these words. This is evidenced by a group of cognitive psychologists from the United States led by Keith Rayner, one of the most respected scientists in the study of eye movements, visual perception and reading.

Research has shown that there is a trade-off between speed and reading accuracy. It is unlikely that readers will be able to double or triple their speed while still maintaining their familiar level of learning.

This is due to the anatomy of the eyes, the peculiarities of human short-term memory and the limited ability of the brain to process visual information. Visual acuity and level of concentration are noticeably reduced when trying to cover a large amount of text.

Speed reading is useful when getting simple information, such as reading news or mail. If a deep understanding is not required at all, then sliding through the text may be in place: you know the proposed material well and want to clarify only a few details. In many other situations, on the contrary, it is necessary to slow down and re-read the text in order to understand its essence.

The surest way to read faster

In the conclusion of their scientific research, psychologists give a simple formula for how to speed up the reading process.

Constant reading practice makes you a more qualified native speaker by expanding your vocabulary. This is a surefire way to learn to read faster without compromising understanding of the meaning.

Do you practice speed reading? Can you confirm or deny the opinion of scientists?