The relative effects of size of type, leading and context

Abstract

Part II, concluding the report of an experiment with 300 adult subjects on legibility. (For Part I, vide J. Appl. Psychol., 1929, 13, 600-629.) Preferences of the subjects seldom agreed with their best reading rates. Opinions of readers regarding legibility place interest in the context in a much less important position than it actually occupies. Two conclusions are: "(a) Context is a more important factor in determining legibility than the sensory content of the type setting when the reading rate is used as a criterion; (b) the sensory content is the basis of the readers' preferences and opinions of legibility." "The results of this experiment do not warrant specific recommendations for the use of a particular type size or leading for newspaper columns within the limits of the type size and leading that have been tested." Bibliography of 46 titles. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)