Abstract
Eye tracking has been utilized for decades to study perceptual processes in a range of fields, and it has proven particularly useful for studying how the viewing behaviours of experts and novices within a field differ from one another. This article reports on a study that uses eye tracking to examine patterns in the ways that visual communication experts and non-experts read journalistic photographs that they might encounter in their daily lives. Expert participants (29) were practitioners with a minimum of 4–5 years of experience in a visual communication field; non-expert participants (29) had no training in visual communication and had 0–1 year of experience. Participants viewed 10 images and answered a series of four questions about each image. Participant eye movements were tracked utilizing a TobiiPro x2-60 eye tracker connected to a 17-inch high-end gaming laptop. The literature suggests that there should be observable differences between the eye movements of experts and non-experts, with expert viewing behaviour being more efficient and effective. However, the differences between experts and non-expert participants in the study were inconsistent and far less extensive than expected. The article discusses possible explanations for these results and suggests directions for future studies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 65-89 |
Number of pages | 25 |
Journal | Journal of Visual Literacy |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2022 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- experts and non-experts
- Eye-tracking
- viewing patterns
- visual communication expertise
- visual literacy expertise
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- Communication
- Visual Arts and Performing Arts