Аннотация:Numerous researches show that reading process includes extrafoveal perception of a text, and its role increases when reading skills develop. The purpose of the investigation was to determine variations of foveal and extrafoveal perception of geometrical objects depending on the competence level. University students and 7-8-year-old children were asked to find an object with a target shape as quick as possible. Each of the 96 trials presented four geometrical objects located at the same distance from the central fixation point. The target shapes, the target and the distractors similarity, and the habitualness of their orientation were varied. The results indicate that a target shape was recognized by the first saccade or without any saccades by the adults in the case of mild contrast of a target and the distractors. Children demonstrated certain extrafoveal perception only in the case of very high contrast. Note that the adults showed greater variety of perceptual strategies in comparison with the children. The results suggest that greater competence is accompanied by folding of searching saccades and enrichment of perception strategies. However, these strategies are strongly individual and their dependence on the subject’s personal and cognitive features needs further investigation.
Supported by RFBR, grant No. 15-06-06319.