The modality-match effect in recognition refers to superior memory for words presented in the same modality at study and test. Prior research on this effect is ambiguous and inconsistent. The present study demonstrates that the modality-match effect is found when modality is rendered salient at either encoding or retrieval. Specifically, in…

Takes issue with scientific legibility studies which focus on isolating variables to obtain verifiable results, but which are not useful in the more complex and holistic design of specific type faces. Demonstrates visually the principles and attributes ending with Roxane, a typeface developed with certain principles in mind. (SC)

The encoding mechanism involved in perceptual recognition of words and pictures was investigated. Latencies in naming targets were analyzed as a function of several characteristics of a preceding prime. Results indicated that a common semantic code is available that can represent the meaning of either a word or a picture. (Author/RD)

Butler (1980) compared errors representing intrusions and mislocalizations on 3x3 letter displays under pattern-mask versus no-mask conditions and found that pattern masking increased character mislocalization errors (naming a character in the display but not in the target position as being the target) over intrusion errors (naming a character not…

Contrast thresholds for sine-wave gratings of spatial frequencies of 2, 4, 12, and 16 cycles per degree were determined for normal and disabled readers at a range of stimulus durations. The differences in sensitivity pattern across spatial frequencies was greatest at stimulus durations approximately equal to fixation durations during reading.…

Reports a series of studies that investigated the role of parafoveal vision in reading by using the Stroop phenomenon. Supports the "peripheral search guidance" process of Hochberg's model of reading, and provides evidence of processing variations across retinal location. (RL)

Small graphic changes made in normal letters of the alphabet changed the similarity relations among those letters. Children and adults classified letters of this distinctive font faster and with fewer errors than they did normal letters. Relations between letters in the stimulus set determined how difficult any particular letter was to classify.…

Data from 31 college students attending a remedial arithmetic course at a community college was gathered to study the relationships between arithmetic disability, visual motor, and visual figure ground abilities in college students. (PHR)

Confirmed the hypothesis that those in the three-dimensional instructional group would make fewer confusion errors that those in the two-dimensional instructional group on a transfer task in reading. (RB)

Exercises in sketching a scene of words, focusing, describing elemental structure (using comparison, contrast, analogy, and antithesis), and sketching and writing about still-life arrangements can heighten students' awareness of sense impressions and lead to improved writing skills. (TJ)

Presents an overview of some of the major concerns for teachers of Image Study in higher education and offers examples of image sets useful for concept teaching. (MH)

Offers a brief student analysis of the visual elements which compose the front pages of two daily British newspapers in a single day. (MH)

Two experiments examined the perceptual processing of letters embedded within one- and two-syllable words and visually similar nonwords. Results suggest that (1) the size of compelling perceptual units seems limited, and (2) unit size is not necessarily related to the correspondence between letter order and pronounceability. (Author/BW)

Signal detection experiments with 21 college students suggest that streakiness is a property of auditory and visual discrimination in that correct and incorrect responses have a positive sequential dependency. Monte-Carlo simulations of observed data sequences suggest that streaky performance results from wavelike variations in perceptual and…

Inspection times for both auditory and visual stimuli were correlated with verbal and nonverbal intelligence. Correlations were -.3188 and -.0929 for auditory and visual inspection times with verbal intelligence, and -.2322 and -.2676 with nonverbal intelligence. Results do not support claims that inspection time is closely related to…