A
number of recent surveys indicated that college students would rather read
print course materials, not digital. A new study which delved more deeply into
reading comprehension both confirmed and contradicted those earlier surveys.
In a
report for Business Insider, researchers Patricia A. Alexander and Lauren M.
Singer said they first asked students which medium they preferred, then had the
students read two items—one in print, the other online. Afterward, students had
to identify the main ideas in the texts and describe key points. At the end,
students were asked to rate their comprehension of the materials.
Alexander
and Singer said students “overwhelmingly” claimed to prefer reading digital
materials. Students did finish reading their digital assignment sooner than the
printed one. They also said their comprehension of the online material was
“better” than print. That didn’t hold up under closer scrutiny, though.
In
analyzing students’ answers about the reading content, the researchers found
their understanding of the main points was about the same for either medium.
When it came to recalling more detailed information, however, students’
comprehension improved considerably with the printed materials in comparison to
the digital.
But
there was an interesting side note: Some students performed equally well
regardless of the medium. It turns out this group took their time in reading
online, allowing them to absorb the information.
That
led Alexander and Singer to recommend that instructors keep educational goals
in mind when choosing formats for course materials. If students are expected to
retain more detailed concepts, then instructors should stick with printed works
or encourage students to slow down their screen reading.
