Speed reading and comprehension: what to check
Understand the limits of speed reading, check what you remember from a passage, and decide when to slow down or reread the original text.
Rapidly changing words can make it feel as though you have read a great deal. But the number of words displayed does not tell you which relationships, conditions, and conclusions you remember. In Fastreader, pace and position help you control the display; the application does not measure how well you have learned the material.
What research tells us
The review by Rayner and colleagues examines ordinary reading, skimming, and speed-up methods, including RSVP. The authors describe a trade-off between speed and comprehension. This does not mean that one pace or interface suits everyone. It is a reason to be cautious about promises of reading several times faster without losing understanding.
A separate study by Schotter and colleagues found that being unable to return to words reduced comprehension in the task studied. The application therefore offers repeat, context, and the full text. The presence of these features does not itself prove that they improve results.
How to check reading comprehension
The new report form applies only to projects started after the first of the month. All other projects keep the previous procedure until the end of the quarter.
Add the example to the reader. Read it word by word and pause. Without looking at the context, answer: which projects does the change apply to, which projects are excluded, and how long does the exception last? Then open the full paragraph and check your answer.
If you remember only “new report form”, reduce the pace or switch to ordinary reading. In a task involving conditions, missing an exception matters more than the number of words covered. Successfully retelling one familiar example also does not prove a lasting improvement in reading skill.
Separate your tasks
- To become familiar with a topic, look at the structure of the full text first.
- To read a straightforward passage in sequence, try word-by-word display.
- To check a decision, numbers, and qualifications, return to the sentences and the original document.
The tool’s limits
Fastreader does not assess reading skills, treat reading difficulties, or promise to replace learning. It is a way to open your own text and choose a display that suits you. Evaluate its usefulness against a particular task: did you understand, explain, or apply what you read?
Sources: Rayner and colleagues, review, 2016; Schotter and colleagues, 2014.
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