READING AS A

PROCESS

Reading involves many process

es.
Physiologi
cal

Cognitiv
e
Communicat
ion

Psychosocial

READING AS A PHYSI
OLOGICAL PROCESS

PHYSIOLOGY
Physiology is the scien
ce dealing with the fu
nctions and vital proc
esses of living organis
ms.

How is reading as a ph
ysiological process?

Eyes see
the printed
word or
the
images.

Using the
currents,
the cerebral
cortex
interprets
the
symbols.

Light patterns
from the printed
symbols hit the
foveal areas or
closely-packed
sensory cells of
the retina.

Currents
travel to
the
center of
the midbrain.

Chemical
change is
induced that
create patterns
of nerve
currents into
the optic nerve
fiber.

What are the differ

ent eye movement
s involved in readin
g?

 Backward right-to-left movement in case

there is a need to double check what is being
read

Regressions
Fixation

Eyes stopping or getting fixated on the word

or words
The duration of fixation is the length of time
the eyes has to pause.

Interfixation

Eyes moving from stopping point to the other

Return
Sweeps

Eyes swinging back from the end line to the

beginning of the next line

Saccades

Short quick hop and jump movements done

especially by literate people to move ahead
on a line of print

READING AS A COG
NITIVE PROCESS

TWO STEPS INVOLVED IN COGNITION:

The extraneous process creates a stimulu
s on the visual centers of the brain. This c
onsists in two essential aspects, namely,
word recognition or the written symbols a
nd attentive adjustment by the reader on
these symbols.
Fusion/ interpretation/ construction of m
eaning by the mind out of the stimuli.

These two steps involve other comple

x processes which include:
Immediate arousal of association in
recognition of the written symbols --- their
pronunciation, vocabulary meaning, context,
etc.
Other stimuli inclusive of kinesthetic or
auditory
These stimuli are distributed to brain centers
(instinct, feelings, imagination, reason,
abstract intelligence, will)
Synthesis or the fusion of related inputs from
brain centers resulting in the recognition of
the meaning of the printed symbols

Levels of Com
prehension

R
A

INTERPR
L
ETATIVE
-

know
ing
what
is read
what
is
combined
read with
as is
ones subjective
(who

ideas
, - forming
APPLIED
what
,
opinions
and
when
,
applications
wher
EVALUATIVEe,) judgment on
the reading material such as the
information on data, the event,

Higher comprehension skills are charact

erized by:
1. Self-awareness
2. Careful reading and greater retention
3. Making previous assumptions or hypothe
sis
4. The deliberate and combined ability to re
flect, question, classify, summarize, and p
redict
5. Information reading which gives attentio
n to SQ3R

What is SQ3R?

S
question
Q
survey

3R

Read,
Recite,

How is reading as a co
mmunication process?

LANGUAGE is a code sy
stem used by humans
to communicate. And
as there are diverse la
nguages, there are div
ersities in the code sy

Characteristics of L
anguage

1. Clarity
The reader can more easily and immediat
ely understand language when the code s
ymbols are concrete rather than abstracti
ons (universal ideas) and generalizations.
Example:
Many students attended the student coun
cil meeting.
Improved: Ninety-five college students atte
nded Tuesdays student council meeting.

2. Simplicity
Complex wording written for the sake o
f verbal erudition is less easily understo
od, compared with what is expressed di
rectly and to the point.
Example:
Shall we partake of our repast?
Shall we eat?
Mothers culinary dishes are exquisite.
Mother cooks well.

3. Adapted Language
Words of expression should relate to th
e readers age, educational attainment,
gender, ethnic origin, other personal fa
ctors. The inappropriate use of technic
al or specialized words should also be a
voided.

4. Forceful
Stimulating language provides color, int
erest and excitement.
Example:
He speaks at length while saying little.
He spews forth words --- and says n
othing.

5. Vivid Language
Vivid wording is descriptive and stirs th
e senses of the reader.
Very good salesman --- crackerjacker pers
uader
Dishonest and evil --- festering corruption
Trouble spot --- seething hell

How is reading as a psy

cho-social process?

1. People read messages from official comm

unication, mass media and the internet.
2. Reading is a social activity that engages hu
mans in the world.
3. Reading is also professional as it is a form
of communication done in all the professi
ons and human pursuits including scientif
ic and technological research and studies.
4. Reading is a unique activity which you can
adopt every day.

Reference:

Developmental Reading
1
By Aida S. Villanueva, Ph.D. and
Rogelio L. Delos Santos