Ready the pitchforks?

[Tarana]

A. If I were in school I'd want paper books that I could highlight and flip back and forth and write notes in the maregins.

I never wrote or highlighted books. Couldn't resell them with marks.

My school district did their own small study using students who had had ereaders or tablets for over a year and really found no significant differences between those using paper vs. ereader for general reading. They found a lot of difference in only certain types of books, such as science - where you needed to constantly refer back to diagrams or tables. Also issues with annotated literature, but because I've never seen annotated ebooks, I didn't really understand the issue. Flipping back and forth between the text and annotation made it more difficult apparently on an ereader. So, with a history book, the teacher might provide a printed timeline to students, but have them continue to use the ereader for the text. Interestingly, they found that students with ereaders or phones with reading capability were more likely to complete reading assignments in a timely manner (or at all) than those without them. The kids report that it's easier to tote it with them than a book and it is instantly in the spot that you left.

So, as we suspected, most, but not all, of the issues are simply that those in the test aren't familiar with ereading and thus the study is useless.

[Sydney's Mom]

I dismissed the article upon reading the first "hack" I read an average of an hour in bed each night, and with no distractions, I think it is the best time to read. My blackberry is off, the lights are off, it is just my PW and me. Would I read a research article at that time? Of course not.

I usually keep my PW on the edge of the bed frame. I took it out of the bedroom on Sunday, for the first time in FOREVER, and I had to download the book I was reading to my Fire, find my place, and take an Ambien. My husband found it the next day, and that night I slept like a baby. It is just what you are used to. I read until the print starts to blur, shut my PW and put it on the bedframe.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Isn't it possible that, for everyone but the two participants (in the eink research) who were accustomed to reading on eink devices, the "check me out, I'm actually reading on a wizzbang gizmo!" factor might have skewed results? I know it wasn't a seamless transition from paper to electronic for myself. It took a while for the device to "go away." Doesn't make sense to me to try and form any permanent conclusions on retention/comprehension from a test where forty-eight of the fifty participants were still in the process of acclimating to the concept.

Using an e-reader isn't rocket science, but there is a period of adjustment. If there are differences between using an e-reader and using a paper book, it would be very interesting to see if these differences persist over time. It would be interesting to compare those who prefer e-readers with those who prefer paper. My guess is that those who prefer e-readers will outperform those who are only use them because someone made them - if it didn't work out for them, they wouldn't keep using it.

[Lin2412]

Originally Posted by Tarana

I never wrote or highlighted books. Couldn't resell them with marks.

My school district did their own small study using students who had had ereaders or tablets for over a year and really found no significant differences between those using paper vs. ereader for general reading. They found a lot of difference in only certain types of books, such as science - where you needed to constantly refer back to diagrams or tables. Also issues with annotated literature, but because I've never seen annotated ebooks, I didn't really understand the issue. Flipping back and forth between the text and annotation made it more difficult apparently on an ereader. So, with a history book, the teacher might provide a printed timeline to students, but have them continue to use the ereader for the text. Interestingly, they found that students with ereaders or phones with reading capability were more likely to complete reading assignments in a timely manner (or at all) than those without them. The kids report that it's easier to tote it with them than a book and it is instantly in the spot that you left.

So, as we suspected, most, but not all, of the issues are simply that those in the test aren't familiar with ereading and thus the study is useless.

Hahahaha. Thanks for sharing, Tarana.
I remember a classmate before, who never brings paperbooks or anything in class, except herself and her tablet. She was performing really well. And she has a talent with taking notes and multitasking. Personally, when I do my research and need to finish on readings, I prefer ebooks where I can customize the font (it's amazing the things that fonts can do to induce learning)

[ottdmk]

Yet another journalist espouses on how hard copies are better for comprehension: Link here

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by ottdmk

Yet another journalist espouses on how hard copies are better for comprehension: Link here

All you need to do is read the caption of the photo to know not to trust what the article says. So the Paperwhite is now a tablet?

Despite every effort by Jeff Bezos of Amazon, for example, to replicate the traditional reading experience via tablets such as the kindle paper white, print books still represent the best option for thoughtful concentrated reading and it’s easier on the environment, too.

[speakingtohe]

I read purely for pleasure these days, but many books stick in my mind. Except for a few nostalgia items unavailable as ebooks I don't read paper any more. If I strongly remember a book and/or it's contents, it is because the book was memorable to me.

I often start a book to find I have already read it, but not nearly as often as I did with paper, nothing to do with my retention, just that I can mark them as read with calibre.

Based solely on my personal experience, I do not think it is hard to become acclimatized to ebooks. I was 60 when I bought my first Sony and was reading more than ever due to the ease and probably the novelty.
I read a 300 page book the first day/night and started another.

But if participating in a study, probably not having used an ereader before could make people self-conscious.

If they are using novices to ereading in the study, perhaps they should include an equal amount of novices to paper book reading. A fair study would start with those who have equal or at least sufficient skills in both.

Helen

[Quexos]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I read purely for pleasure these days, but many books stick in my mind.

I can't imagine any other reason to read and books stick to my mind when they make an impression on me

[murg]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I read purely for pleasure these days, but many books stick in my mind.