Reading Rate and Prose Retrieval.

The findings of 2 studies call into question the theory that limitations in working memory pose a lower limit to reading rate under conditions designed to elicit prose recall. Study 1 investigates 3 presentation rates for college students to determine effects of imposing reading speeds below and above "optimal" reading rates. The results indicate that although efficiency increases with reading rate, prose retrieval decreases. Contrary to predictions of this lower limits theory, the slowest rate generated an increase in prose retrieval and a high rating of desirability by readers. Study 2 addresses some questions generated by the first study regarding text complexity, text length, and working memory resources and involves young and older adult readers. Due to a reduction in working memory resources of older adults, a slow presentation rate should have an even greater debilitating effect on older adults. This hypothesis was not confirmed.

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