engleski

Reading in print and digital environment – preliminary results from a PhD thesis

Due to an increased availability of devices that allow reading from the screen, the doctoral thesis investigates if there are differences in the quality of reading in print and digital environments. Measures of reading quality were perceived attention and reading satisfaction, followed by memory and comprehension tests. Furthermore, the dissertation explores the correlations of personality traits and intelligence with reading habits and the quality of reading in print and digital environments. Undergraduate students at the University of Zadar participated in the research (N=172). The impact of digital and print environments on the levels of memory, comprehension, perceived attention and reading satisfaction was examined by using experimental design combined with a correlational study. At the first stage, participants from both groups completed a test of cognitive ability. For the reading task, a popular scholarly text was chosen. The first group of students read the text on paper, and the second group read the same text on LCD computer screens. After reading, all students continued with questionnaires on paper. Questions about perceived reading attention, interest, comfort and satisfaction were followed by a test of reading memory and comprehension, a reading habits survey and a personality inventory. Preliminary results of this research indicate that the print environment is better for reading compared to the digital environment. Students perceived reading from paper as more comfortable. In addition, students who read the text on paper recalled more facts compared to students who read the same text on LCD computer screens. Furthermore, students with lower levels of emotional stability and conscientiousness perceived the lower level of focused attention during reading in the digital environment. In the print environment there were no such correlations, probably because the print environment does not require a higher level of focused attention. As mentioned earlier, it is more comfortable to read from paper. The results contribute to a better understanding of the process of reading in print and digital environments. The findings indicate that the digital environment has a negative impact on reading.

Reading; Print Environment; Digital Environment; Personality Traits; Memory; University students

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