I found the first reading, Visual Communication for Forms Design, to be the most helpful of the articles I read and the bulk of the information in this response will come from there. I found it really helpful that the ideas weren't just listed, but followed up with an explanation of why the idea works. It was thorough without being boring- a very well thought out piece.
One very helpful section was How We Identify Letters and Words. This explained a little about how our brains read and recognize letters and words as well as design tips that help us design accordingly. For example we learn that writing in all caps messes with the our ability to recognize outlines, which is an essential part of reading and comprehending.
The following section, How We Read, shares similar ideas, but on the paragraph level. We learn that too big of leading can confuse us when moving from line to line, and the "Alphabet and a Half" theory which states that "that a line of type should be no shorter than one alphabet (twenty six characters), and no longer than two and one-half alphabets (sixty five characters)."
Finally, the article discusses caption styles for forms. Everyone will agree, the one thing that turns an easy form to a pain in the ass is when the space where you are supposed to fill in your answers is unclear. The pros and cons of a couple different options are discussed.
Psychology and Design may not be traditionally linked, but and understanding of both can really give you an edge. It is one of those things that initially surprises you a bit, but after a second though makes perfect sense.
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