Effects of standard versus alphabetical keyboard formats on typing performance

Abstract

Compared the typing performance of nontypists on 2 typewriter keyboards, 1 with a standard key arrangement and the other with keys rearranged in alphabetical sequence. Analysis included results for 40 Ss whose scores in a pretest were lower than 2 strokes/sec. Ss were divided into 2 groups. Following pretests on both standard and alphabetical keyboards, each group practiced on 1 type of keyboard only. At regular intervals, Ss took 10-min tests on the assigned machines; and at the end of the practice, all Ss were tested again on both machines. Results indicate that untrained typists can enter correct data faster on a standard typewriter keyboard than on the sequential alphabetical keyboard. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1970 American Psychological Association.