Component Abilities of Spelling, Memory, and Motor Skill in Novices' Transcription Typing

Abstract

Component abilities in transcription typing were examined among novice typists. The relations of spelling ability, memory for the keyboard, and motor skill to typing ability among male and female novice typists were considered. High school students, 138 girls and 130 boys, served as subjects. Students in one- and two-semester typing courses were tested for speed of typing and were administered a test battery that assessed component abilities. A keyboard memory task showed variability in the subjects' recall of key locations of letters of the alphabet. Knowledge of key locations was associated with faster typing speed. Spelling, memory for the keyboard, and motor skill positively correlated with typing speed, suggesting each is essential for good performance.