Print vs Digital Reading Study

A new study found that when students read digital texts for leisure it had almost no impact on their reading comprehension. This study was an analysis of 25 studies, published between 2000 and 2022, involving about 470,000 participants from at least three dozen countries. Given the minimal connection observed between digital leisure reading and reading comprehension, Altamura and her co-authors estimate that if a student spends 10 hours reading in print in their free time, their ability to comprehend will likely be six to eight times higher than if they read on digital devices for the same amount of time. 

Altamura, L., Vargas, C., & Salmerón, L. (2023). Do New Forms of Reading Pay Off? A Meta-Analysis on the Relationship Between Leisure Digital Reading Habits and Text Comprehension. Review of Educational Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543231216463

Storytelling Ability Can Affect Reading Skills

According to research by the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, African-American boys in preschool who excel at storytelling may learn to read more quickly than their peers. Researcher Nicole Gardner-Neblett said the results were something of a surprise. Her previous research had found that strong oral narrative skills in preschool predicted better reading comprehension in elementary school for African-American children, though not for white, Hispanic or Asian children. This latest study was an attempt to find out more about that connection, especially as it demonstrated an area of academic strength for a group that is often considered at a disadvantage in school. Identifying strengths that could lead to success in reading is of particular importance, Gardner-Neblett said, because of the wide skill gap between African- American students and white students.

Gardner-Neblett, N. (2017). African-American boys who tell better stories as preschoolers may learn to read more quickly. North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. http://hechingerreport.org/african-american-boys-tell-better-stories-preschoolers-may-learn-read-quickly/

Reading Comprehension Differences Between Mediums

This study explored differences that might exist in comprehension when students read digital and printed texts. Prior to reading texts in counterbalanced order, topic knowledge was assessed and students were asked to state medium preferences. After reading, students were asked to judge under which medium they comprehended best. Results demonstrated a clear preference for digital texts, and students typically predicted better comprehension when reading digitally. The study revealed potential differences in comprehension across mediums, even taking into account students’ self-reported knowledge of the reading topics, which has yet to be explored.

Singer, L. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2017) Reading across mediums: Effects of reading digital and print texts on comprehension and calibration. The Journal of Experimental Education. 85(1), 155-172. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2016.1143794