Terry:
Sorry to be a little slow responding.
Maria dos Santos Lonsdale, in the upcoming issue of Visible Language (48.3 - going in the mail this week) has an article reviewing the findings on type legibility and on page 52 - 55 of the journal issue she specifically covers research on columns. She begins the discussion on columns by saying just what you've found:
"Little attention appears to have been paid to how
text is set in columns. However, the evidence available
on single or multiple columns suggests that
neither of these layouts is superior to the other.
In fact, it seems that any advantage in terms of
legibility, i.e. speed of reading, for either of these
layouts largely depends on the column width, on
the nature of the text, and on the circumstances
of use."
She goes on for 2+ pages to describe the literature more specifically. If you can't wait to get the journal, I'll email you the .PDF proof off-line. Just email me.
Table 10 of that article shows how research relates to practice:
RESEARCH
• When scanning for target words, the
double column layout seems to have
an advantage.
[ Foster, 1970; Hartley et al, 1978 ]
• For scientific journals and exams, a
single column layout is read quicker.
[ Poulton, 1959; Lonsdale et al, 2006;
Lonsdale, 2007 ]
PRACTICE
• For straightforward prose a double
column layout with a medium line
length is better than a single column
layout with long lines. Unless wide
margins are used with the single
column.
[ Rehe, 1979; Simmonds and Reynolds, 1994 ]
• If the text requires headings or
integrates non-textual elements that
could occupy the space of two columns,
a single column layout is advisable.
[ Hartley and Burnhill, 1977a; Southall, 1984 ]
• If the two columns are asymmetric the
narrower column can be used for
headings, captions, and notes, as well
as small illustrations
[ Simmonds and Reynolds, 1994 ]
• As column measure increases, the
interlinear space should also increase.
[ Carter et al, 1993 ]
As others have implied, the number of columns is but one interrelated factor affecting legibility, as the comments from the table suggest. While I understand the advice to 'just set it and take a look,' it is none-the less good practice to read relevant research findings on the subject such as they are to help inform and guide your understanding OF your typeset samples!
Two recently published articles by Jeanne-Louise Moys in Visible Language describe different readers impressions of content based on layout including number of columns I believe, the most recent article in 48.1:
Jeanne-Louise Moys, "Typographic Layout and First Impressions."
As Maria said, number of columns suggests different content intention and/or supports different nature of use.
Nothing definitive, we still have a lot to learn, but I hope this helps a bit.
Best...
Mike Zender
University of Cincinnati
Editor, Visible language
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