What is Regression in Reading? Cause and Effects
Regression refers to backtracking while reading a text. Regression in reading means re-reading the text again and again. People prone to regression in reading scroll back to the words or sentences they read. They do it to ensure that they have read the text correctly. Regression in reading decreases the overall flow of reading.
What causes regression in reading?
The causes of regression in reading result from weaker cognitive and linguistic processing capabilities. Another reason that causes regression in reading is the inability to comprehend the meaning of words reading in a flow. Many people re-read the words or phrases to ensure they understand them correctly. Some people stop to refer to the dictionary if they come across a difficult word. Despite knowing the meaning of a particular word, some people re-read the sentence to understand its context. It is because of poor comprehension skills.
Regressive reading occurs due to a lack of confidence in reading abilities. People regress while reading because they think they can only understand the context of the text by reading it again and again. It happens because of poor schooling and cramming habits. People who frequently regress while reading do it out of habit because that is how they learn to read. However, getting masters dissertation help is also an option for them.
How does regression affect reading?
Regression in reading means reading the text repeatedly and not understanding a single thing in the text. Reading requires concentration and focus on comprehending the text’s flow and extracting meaning. If you re-read the text repeatedly, you lose focus and break the flow and structure of the text. Reading is an important aspect of any research or educational career. Students and researchers have to do a lot of reading for research purposes. They have to read multiple sources of literature in a limited time.
Regression affects the ability of readers to extract information quickly and extract the meaning out of the text. If you regress while reading a text, the result will be a blurry image of the text you spent so much time reading in. People who are prone to regressive reading forget the contents of the text shortly after they read the text. The eyes constantly move backwards and forward, losing their camera-like focus. It wastes a lot of time and energy. It hinders comprehension because regressive reading is not sequential but is disjointed and jumpy.
Is regression a good reading habit?
Comprehending the text and understanding the major points of the text in sequential order are good reading habits. Students and researchers often have to read quickly to extract information out of a text. If they succumb to regressive reading, it wastes time and energy. If you are reading something and going back to the words and phrases repeatedly, you will not comprehend it. Reading without comprehending the text is a useless exercise. Comprehension is fundamental in reading, and regressive reading is counterproductive. Regression in reading is a bad reading habit due to the following reasons:
- It makes it difficult for the reader to comprehend the text
- Readers who have a habit of regressive reading face a hard time when they have to do a quick reading
- Readers lose concentration when they re-read the text again and again
- Decreases the overall comprehension of the subject or topic
- It slows down the reading and causes mental strain
- Regressive reading has become a life-long habit, and it becomes hard to get rid of it
The human mind does not operate in a fixated manner. Everything in the universe has a flow, and stagnation is counterproductive. The same applies to reading; if you keep reading the text in a flow, it improves your comprehension. It enhances your attention span. But, if you regress and revert to the words and phrases, it disrupts the reading flow. The outcome is that you spend time reading something that you do not even remember. The ability to process information and retain it requires reading it in a flow. It is not necessary to know the meaning of every word and phrase. The key task of reading something is to understand the underlying themes or major points.
What is regression Eye Movement?
Regression eye movement refers to the eye movements while reading a text and going back to the words and phrases. French ophthalmologist Louis Emile first coined the concept in the late 19th century. According to his observations, eye movements are not continuous while reading a text. But, readers go back and forth while reading a text, and he referred to them as “saccades” coupled with another terminology, “fixations”.
Readers with regression eye movement have poor reading skills. They fixate on particular words and phrases while reading. People who have poor reading habits have disjointed and unsystematic eye movements. Skilled readers fixate on a particular word for only 250 milliseconds. They can extract 1.2 words during each fixation. Poor readers who have lower motivation and process information slowly exhibit regression eye movement.
How can you get rid of regressive reading?
If you are a regressive reader, you can improve it incrementally by doing the following things:
- Keep an eye on regression if you do it habitually
- Please do not read the sentence or phrase unless it is necessary
- Use pointers to avoid regression in eye movements
- You can use pointers such as fingers, pen or cursor to avoid regression
- Always read in a quiet environment with no distractions
- Try to concentrate on the text
- Try to enjoy the text and the ideas rather than hurrying to finish it
Conclusion
Regression in reading is counterproductive, and it is a bad reading habit. Readers who have regressive reading habits face difficulties extracting information from a text. Teachers and students must understand the implications of regressive reading. Proper measures can be taken to avoid regressive reading.