V2 Reading Comprehension Pilot Study

Participant Information and Consent

A Study of Reading and Understanding Short Texts

You are invited to take part in a research study on how people understand written texts.

If you agree to participate, you will complete a short online survey in which you read several brief texts and answer questions about them. You will also rate how well you think you understood each text. The survey will take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete.

Your participation is voluntary, and you may stop at any time before submitting your responses. The survey is anonymous, and no identifying information will be collected. Because the data is anonymous, it will not be possible to withdraw your responses after submission.

This study is conducted as part of a doctoral research project at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. If you have any questions, please contact:

Elizabeth A. Mitchell

WeChat ID: LizMitchell21

Email: Elizabeth.Mitchell@student.xjtlu.edu.cn

Instructions

In this study, you will read three short texts and answer questions about each one. After each text, you will rate your understanding, evaluate its clarity and ease of reading, and answer five questions about its content.

Please read each text carefully and answer all questions based only on what you have just read.

Do not use translation tools, AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, DeepSeek), or search engines at any point while completing the survey. The task is designed to measure your immediate understanding of the texts.

There are no right or wrong answers for the rating questions. Please respond as honestly as possible.

Please complete the survey in one sitting without interruption.

*Important: Once you move past a text, you will not be able to return to it.

Background Information

Text 1: How Indigo Dye Works

Indigo dye does not dissolve in water in its normal form, so it must be changed into a soluble form to enter fabric. When exposed to air, it returns to its blue form and becomes fixed in the fibers.

Text 2: How GPS Determines Location

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation system that allows a receiver, such as a smartphone, to determine its location on Earth. It works by using a network of satellites that orbit the planet. Each satellite continuously sends signals containing information about its position and the time the signal was transmitted.

A GPS receiver picks up signals from multiple satellites and calculates how long each signal took to arrive. Because signals travel at a known speed, the receiver can estimate its distance from each satellite. By combining distance measurements from at least four satellites, the receiver can determine its exact position in three-dimensional space.
This process, known as trilateration, allows GPS devices to provide accurate location information almost anywhere on Earth.

Text 3: Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Noise-cancelling headphones reduce background noise using active noise control. Microphones detect external sounds, and the headphones produce an opposite sound wave that cancels them out through destructive interference.

This approach is most effective for low-frequency, continuous noises because they are easier to predict and counteract. It is less effective for sudden or irregular sounds, which change too quickly for the system to respond.

Many headphones also reduce noise passively by physically blocking sound, combining both methods to improve overall performance.

Thank you for taking part in this study.

Your responses have been recorded.

If you have any questions about the study, you may contact:

Elizabeth A. Mitchell

WeChat ID: LizMitchell 21

Elizabeth.Mitchell24@student.xjtlu.edu.cn