A study found that students who read texts in print scored significantly better on the reading comprehension test than students who read the texts digitally. Empirical evidence also indicates that affordances of screen devices might negatively impact cognitive and emotional aspects of reading.These studies add to the much-needed body of research on the effects of media substrate on humans. It’s important to provide research and evidence-based knowledge to publishers on what kind of devices (iPad, Kindle, print) should be used for what kind of content.&nbsp;

The Importance Of Research On Reading Habits

A new study compared people reading from a Kindle and paperback and found that, although the emotional response and immersion were similar between the groups, readers using a Kindle were "significantly" worse at recalling the order of events in a mystery story.One of the theories about that is that the decreasing number of pages on the right side of the book as we read paperback is used by the brain as a marker to order events.

Event Recall On Different Reading Substrates

<div>
<div>



This article is more than 5 years old
</div>
</div><div>

Research suggests that recall of plot after using an e-reader is poorer than with traditional books
</div>
<time>
Tue 19 Aug 2014 12.14 EDT
</time>
<time>
First published on Tue 19 Aug 2014 12.14 EDT
</time><figure><picture>

<source/>
<source/>
<source/>
<source/>
<source/>
<source/>
<source/>
<source/>
<source/>
<source/>

<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/8/19/1408464234883/ebook-009.jpg?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=da7ab6e1069cd89297f54bb25b9a09c9"/>
</picture><figcaption> 'The haptic and tactile feedback of a Kindle does not provide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does' … an ebook reader. Photograph: Alamy</figcaption></figure>A new study which found that readers using a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/kindle">Kindle</a> were "significantly" worse than paperback readers at recalling when events occurred in a mystery story is part of major new Europe-wide research looking at the impact of digitisation on the reading experience.The study, presented in Italy at a conference last month and set to be published as a paper, gave 50 readers the same short story by Elizabeth George to read. Half read the 28-page story on a Kindle, and half in a paperback, with readers then tested on aspects of the story including objects, characters and settings.Anne Mangen of Norway's Stavanger University, a lead researcher on the study, thought academics might "find differences in the immersion facilitated by the device, in emotional responses" to the story. Her predictions were based on an earlier study comparing reading an upsetting short story on paper and on iPad. "In this study, we found that paper readers did report higher on measures having to do with empathy and transportation and immersion, and narrative coherence, than <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ipad">iPad</a> readers," said Mangen.But instead, the performance was largely similar, except when it came to the timing of events in the story. "The Kindle readers performed significantly worse on the plot reconstruction measure, ie, when they were asked to place 14 events in the correct order."The researchers suggest that "the haptic and tactile feedback of a Kindle does not provide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does"."When you read on paper you can sense with your fingers a pile of pages on the left growing, and shrinking on the right," said Mangen. "You have the tactile sense of progress, in addition to the visual ... [The differences for Kindle readers] might have something to do with the fact that the fixity of a text on paper, and this very gradual unfolding of paper as you progress through a story, is some kind of sensory offload, supporting the visual sense of progress when you're reading. Perhaps this somehow aids the reader, providing more fixity and solidity to the reader's sense of unfolding and progress of the text, and hence the story."<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aefbb95d412e62514bb3a5c9bdb47f23127f75ad/1826_0_1399_840/master/1399.png?width=460&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=49e0280d20fbcffd5272ab9c79c438f0"/>Mangen also pointed to a paper published last year, which gave 72 Norwegian 10th-graders texts to read in print, or in PDF on a computer screen, followed by comprehension tests. She and her fellow researchers found that "students who read texts in print scored significantly better on the reading comprehension test than students who read the texts digitally".She is now chairing a new European research network doing empirical research on the effects of digitisation on text reading. The network says that "research shows that the amount of time spent reading long-form texts is in decline, and due to digitisation, reading is becoming more intermittent and fragmented", with "empirical evidence indicat[ing] that affordances of screen devices might negatively impact cognitive and emotional aspects of reading". They hope their work will improve scientific understanding of the implications of digitisation, thus helping to cope with its impact."We need to provide research and evidence-based knowledge to publishers on what kind of devices (iPad, Kindle, print) should be used for what kind of content; what kinds of texts are likely to be less hampered by being read digitally, and which might require the support of paper," said Mangen. "I'm thinking it might make a difference if a novel is a page-turner or light read, when you don't necessarily have to pay attention to every word, compared to a 500-page, more complex literary novel, something like Ulysses, which is challenging reading that really requires sustained focus. That will be very interesting to explore."The Elizabeth George study included only two experienced Kindle users, and she is keen to replicate it using a greater proportion of Kindle regulars. But she warned against assuming that the "digital natives" of today would perform better."I don't think we should assume it is all to do with habits, and base decisions to replace print textbooks with iPads, for instance, on such assumptions. Studies with students, for instance, have shown that they often prefer to read on paper," she said.<h2>
 News is under threat ...
 </h2>... just when we need it the most. Millions of readers around the world are coming to the Guardian in search of honest, authoritative, fact-based reporting that can help them understand what may be the biggest challenge we face in our lifetime. But at this crucial moment, advertising revenue is plummeting, and news organizations are facing an existential threat. We need you to help fill the gap.We believe every one of us deserves equal access to vital public service journalism. So, unlike many others, we made a different choice: to keep Guardian journalism open for all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay. This would not be possible without financial contributions from those who can afford to pay, who now support our work from 180 countries around the world.We have upheld our editorial independence in the face of the disintegration of traditional media – with social platforms giving rise to misinformation, the seemingly unstoppable rise of big tech and independent voices being squashed by commercial ownership. The Guardian’s independence means we can set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. Our journalism is free from commercial and political bias – never influenced by billionaire owners or shareholders. This makes us different. It means we can challenge the powerful without fear and give a voice to those less heard.Reader financial support has meant we can keep investigating, disentangling and interrogating. It has protected our independence, which has never been so critical. We are so grateful. We need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent – and that is here for the long term. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Support the Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

Research suggests that recall of plot after using an e-reader is poorer than with traditional books

Readers absorb less on Kindles than on paper, study finds

The Importance Of Research On Reading Habits

Event Recall On Different Reading Substrates

CURATED BY

Related collections

More like this