Understanding Journal Content and Style - Essay Example

PART UNDERSTANDING JOURNAL CONTENT AND STYLE What do you understand by the term ive, as mentioned in relation to human fatigue and performance throughout the paper Since the paper was about the various effects of the different ways of reading and its significant factors affecting human fatigue, there experiments within the journal had to use people as one of the variables. We also know for a fact that as individuals, we have our own personalities and characteristics. As human beings, we also have our differences as well as our similarities. And in relation to human fatigue and performance, our reactions and/or tolerance to these two factors vary. What could be strenuous to other people may be all right to other people. Our daily activities and exposure to different tasks affect our tolerances to human fatigue and performance. Given this condition, the word subjective throughout the paper suggests the individual capabilities of people (who are the subjects of the study) to be exposed to the different reading media used. Each individual within the study were recognized to have their own representation and interpretation of human fatigue and performance. This aspect is basically affected by one's ability to put up with the factors being studied in the paper. This also means that the results gathered from participants of the study are directly affected by human fatigue and performance, which are the significant elements in the study. (2) What possible criticisms might be raised about the use of subjective measures in a project such as the one described in this paper The use of subjective measures in a project may encourage criticisms such that the results obtained from these kinds of measure may depend on several factors directly affecting the variables in the study - in this study's case the individuals who have their differences in interpreting the subject being studied. In effect, the results of the study may vary and the possibility of obtaining inaccurate measurement or results is higher. Moreover, subjective measures are to obtain non-precise quantity that would apply to the issue being studied. In contrast to an objective means of getting the desired result, there is an exact measurement, thus the outcomes are accurate. The varied reading duration that was allowed for the participants in the study may as well be subjected to criticisms since their reading capabilities were not measured first. As simple as this issue may seem for the study as a whole, however, it could still create a relatively huge margin of error for the research result. In addition, even as the reading materials were of general interest, the subjects (participants) may have varying opinions as to what the term 'general' means to them. As a result, they may have different reactions and attitudes as well towards the articles provided for them. (3) On the first page (INTRODUCTION, column 2, line 14) the author writes: "Others have allowed critical variables to become confounded so that their results are difficult to interpret". What do you understand by the term confounded in this context Based from the statement that precedes this sentence, it could be inferred that the term confounded could mean complex. As the preceding sentence state that "Some investigators have not described their displays, stimulus materials, workplace, environment, and procedure in enough detail to permit meaningful comparisons with other research," it suggest that in order to vagueness and ambiguity prevent the readers from asking more questions as well as comparisons with other researches with the same perspective. Moreover, the next sentence also suggest that while ideas in a research becomes complex and composite to even comprehend, the more that its readers become more likely not to ask further questions regarding the process of obtaining the results of the study. The term confounded in this study also implies that the more complicated the variables in a research become, the more that the results become too difficult to be interpreted as well. Simple variables in the study, though conducted through complicated procedures, are also interpreted easily. The complexity of the variables in the study, therefore could affect the readers' interpretation such that they would enquire further. (4) In the case of making visual fatigue comparisons between the microfiche and a "VDT" (visual display terminal), what would the Null Hypothesis be Null hypothesis is the statistical hypothesis that states that there are no differences between observed and expected data. ("Null") Using this definition as of the case in making visual fatigue comparisons between the microfiche and a VDT, the null hypothesis identified in the study could be that the level of fatigue obtained between reading through the use of a microfiche and reading through the use of VDT or visual display terminal are of no difference. There is basically an equal level of fatigue that the readers would encounter when reading articles through a microfiche as well as reading through a visual display terminal. (5) What was/were the Independent Variable(s) in this study Independent variable(s) in a research study is defined as the variable you have control over, what you can choose and manipulate... In some cases, you may not be able to manipulate the independent variable. It may be something that is already there and is fixed, something you would like to evaluate with respect to how it affects something else." ("Independent") Bearing in mind this definition, the independent variables identified in the study are the different reading media used and the reading time duration or the time spent by the subjects (individuals who whose fatigue and reading performances are measured) in reading the materials given to them so as to measure their performances and the level of fatigue in reference to these materials. Although reading time duration was changed in the study, they were not affected, hence it was expected that they affect or influence the reading performances of the individuals under study. (6) What were the experimental conditions within the Independent Variable(s) in this study The experimental conditions within the Independent Variables in the study were the participants who were presented with the identified independent variables such as the different reading media used and the reading time duration they were allotted to read the articles for them. This environmental condition that was recognized according to the definition of the term such as the procedure that is varied in order to estimate a variable's effect by comparison with a control condition. ("Experimental") Furthermore, the following are the experimental conditions specified according to the research: a. The kind of media used should be identified first since the measure of the participants' level of fatigue depends on the kind of reading medium used - that is the microfiche and the visual display terminal (VDT). b. The reading time duration in which the participants are allowed to read the articles provided for them must be recorded such that reading time also identifies with the level of fatigue that the participants would feel on a limited time. It is assumed, however, that the longer the time spent on a reading material, the lesser the level of fatigue would be felt by the reader. However, the shorter the time given for the reader to read an entire article would develop higher levels of fatigue. These experimental conditions given upon the controlled variables or the independent variables are which the dependent variables depend upon. The results, therefore relies on the given experimental conditions in the abovementioned variables. (7) What were the Dependent Variables in this study Defined as the observed variable in an experiment or study whose changes are determined by the presence or degree of one or more independent variables, ("Dependent") the dependent variables identified in the study are the levels of fatigue and reading performances of the participants in the study. The results of the said variables depend on the independent variables that were acted upon on them. (8) How were the Dependent Variables measured The dependent variables in the two experiments were measured differently. Visual fatigues was assessed or measured with the Visual Fatigue Graphic Rating Scale (VFGRS). Each verbal cue describes various gradations of eye discomfort according to the 15-cm vertically oriented line that consist these verbal cues. Ion addition, Pearson and Byars' Feeling-Tone Checklist (FTC) measured the subjective general fatigue. Two FTC versions were used that consist of 13 short phrases that describe various degrees of extreme tiredness. Each response correspond a score that were added to determine its quantitative measurements. Reading speed was obtained by dividing the number of words read in a fixed time period by the duration of the time the participant finished reading the materials. (9) In the section on METHOD, the author makes reference to white and green phosphors. Why do you think phosphor types are important to consider in the design of visual displays Phosphors have several other colours that have varying illuminations. It is necessary that the phosphor types be considered in the design of visual such that different colours have its corresponding effects in visual fatigue. ("Interface") In this case, the effect on visual fatigue of the CRT display that uses white phosphor may exhibit a different effect than that of the CRT display that uses green phosphor. Moreover, the phosphor colours used in the study was also used as a means for generating positive and negative images on the metal screens that was one of the different conditions that the participants were exposed to in order to identify which condition is more fatiguing for the readers. (10) In the section on RESULTS, what do you understand by the statistical expression p < 0.05 What would you understand by the expression p < 0.01 Based from the study, p < 0.05 means that for those conditions that obtained a mean result that is below 0.05, visual fatigue and performance are less likely to happen than that of the conditions whose means are more than 0.05. When the relationship between reading time and visual fatigue in a given condition exceeds this number, a significantly greater visual fatigue occurs. On the other hand, p < 0.01 expression in the results of the study means that the differences obtained from the different conditions that is more than 0.01 is significantly more fatiguing. However, for the differences that is less than or equal to 0.01, the condition is not fatiguing. (11) Do the results of this study demonstrate conclusively that reading from microfilm is no more fatiguing than reading from printed pages Explain your answer. The results from the study illustrates that reading from microfilm is fatiguing for the readers, but is not far more too fatiguing than reading in printed materials. Only in given circumstances when reading from a microfiche does the condition become fatiguing. One of these conditions would be having screens that are too scintillating for the readers. In addition, there was not much difference in the overall reading performance in relation to the participants' rate in reading. The results from the different conditions that the participants were exposed to showed very small differences such that there very small significant differences found from these conditions. (12) This paper describes, amongst other issues, incidences of visual fatigue when reading from paper, "visual display terminals" and microfiche. Bearing in mind that this paper was published in 1986, what technologies are available today that might yield markedly different results when reading information Some of the technologies that might yield markedly different results when reading information would be reading through the use of computer software such as Adobe Acrobat reader, as well as online reading. These technologies can also be controlled such that the relationship between reading performance and visual fatigue can be measured. Different factors may also be altered in order to create varying conditions such as the screen area, background and text colours, as well as the screen projection of the materials used. These varying conditions may already be able to find out the occurrence and the level of visual fatigue that the readers may experience under different circumstances. ABSTRACT Even as the printed page has been the widely used medium for reading information, modern technologies has created several other ways of doing the same. Various studies have been conducted with the use of microfilms using positive and negative images in relation to its acceptability and ease of use, although the previous data had not been of much use. This study is conducted to find out the similarities of reading from printed paper and the use of microfiche with positive and negative images, as well to find out the factors affecting the polarity issues that relates to reading from video displays. There were 76 participants identified for the study. Each was asked to read articles of general interest from printed pages, microfiche and VDTs at a total of 80 minutes. Performances were validated by multiple choice questions that were distributed to them after reading. Results on the first experiment showed that visual fatigue was not significant among the printed papers and positive microfiche, although a significant result showed that negative microfiche projected on the metal screen was more fatiguing than any other condition. In contrast, the second experiment results exhibited that reading continuous text from a VDT with positive image on a negative contrast is more fatiguing from reading on printed pages; however, reading from a VDT with negative image and positive contrast is not. Therefore, reading from microfilm is no more fatiguing than reading from printed pages, inasmuch as overall reading performance was similar under suitable reading conditions (i.e. P4 and P31 phosphors in VDT). Works Cited: "What do we mean by 'measurement'" http://www.ergolabs.com/data_and_measurement.htm. November 26, 2006. "Independent Variable" http://www.ncsu.edu/labwrite/po/independentvar.htm. November 26, 2006. "Experimental Condition" http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/EXPERIMENTALCONDITION. November 26, 2006. "Dependent Variables" http://www.answers.com/topic/dependent-variable. November 26, 2006. "Interface Design and Optimization of Reading of Continuous Text." http://cogprints.org/753/00/pmuter1.htm. November 26, 2006. Read More