This text discusses the use of eye tracking in translation process research. While eye tracking offers valuable insights, there are several considerations to account for:
Types of Eye Trackers: There are portable and desktop versions. Portable devices like eye-tracking helmets or glasses are currently less ideal for this research due to their invasiveness or inaccuracy. Desktop versions are bulkier and less mobile, making it preferable for participants to visit the location where the tracker is set up.
Environment Control: Eye trackers perform best in controlled light and sound environments, as variations can affect data on pupil size and dilation, which can indicate cognitive effort. However, soundproof rooms are rare, so selecting a quiet room is essential. Factors like emotions, caffeine, and heavy eye makeup can also affect pupil size.
Participant Suitability: Not all participants might be suitable for gaze data collection. Calibration stages help determine this, where participants follow a moving dot on screen. Some may not produce quality data despite good calibration, and it's recommended to recruit more participants than needed to account for potential data issues.
Head Control: Participants should maintain a consistent head position during the study, though some movements are tolerable as modern eye trackers can adjust. Non-swinging adjustable chairs help in this regard. In some research, chin rests on eye trackers help ensure consistent head positioning.
Text Considerations: For eye-tracking research, short texts are preferred due to the data's volume and size. Longer texts require scrolling, complicating analysis as areas of interest on screen move. Large font sizes and double line spacing improve the accuracy of fixation data. Researchers face a dilemma of maintaining ecological validity while using short texts, but excerpts from longer texts can be used for eye tracking, with the full text utilized elsewhere in the study.
Overall, while eye tracking in translation research has its challenges, it's a powerful tool when implemented with careful consideration of the above factors.