Schulte table

A Schulte table is a grid with randomly distributed numbers or letters used for development of speed reading, peripheral vision, attention and visual perception.

Description

Generally 5x5 table used, while there are possible variations with different dimensions, coloured cells and values.

Focus on the grid centre and find all the numbers (letters) with your peripheral vision, i.e. without moving your eyes.

Interpretation of results

Completion speed and number of mistakes are the measurement of the efficiency. From the results of each table the “exhausting curve” could be built which reflects attention stability and peripheral vision functionality.

Other measurements which could be calculated based on Schulte Table performance include:

• work efficiency (WE);
• work warming-up (WU);
• psychological stability (PS).

WE = (T1 + T2 + … + Tn) / n, where Ti - completion time of table i.

WU = T1 / WE

The result of 1,0 and lower shows good warming-up, while 1,0 and more means that one needs more time to prepare for the main work (warm-up).

PS = Tn-1 / WE

The result of 1,0 and less shown good psychological stability.

Positive effects include attention stability, improved visual perception, improved peripheral vision, and development of speed reading.

History

The Schulte Table was developed originally as a psycho-diagnostic test to study the properties of attention, by German psychiatrist and psychotherapist Walter Schulte (1910 — 1972)). From 1962 to 1972 Professor Schulte worked in Tübingen, where he worked in psychopathology and psychotherapy research. Initially, the sample was developed in engineering psychology, it has been used to assess the efficiency and speed of search movements of the vision.