My research methods students ran such a such a study last semester. They used popular magazine articles--one from people magazine and one from discover, to add a second variable of text complexity (which we analyzed for readability and the people article was far more readable).
We found no differences in immediate comprehension testing but interestingly the same thing: the participants in the paper copy condition finished significantly faster than those in the electronic version condition. We attributed the no comprehension finding to a poorly structured comprehension test. (This was a lower division undergraduate research methods class.) Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- Original message ---- >Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 19:45:14 +0000 >From: Jeffrey Nagelbush <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: RE: [tips] E-Texts vs. Hard Copy Texts >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > > This reminds me of a project I supervised for a high > school student a number of years ago in which she > had other students read an essay either on paper or > on the computer. She then tested their > comprehension of what they read. The passage they > read was fairly short and no difference in > comprehension was found, but there was one striking > difference. Every student who read the paper > version finished reading before the first student > who had the computer version finished reading. If > this is a generalizable result it might partially > explain why students read less from the electronic > textbook. It was taking longer to read and they got > tired/bored. > > Jeff Nagelbush > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Ferris State University > > ------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: RE: [tips] E-Texts vs. Hard Copy Texts > Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 13:58:32 -0400 > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [email protected] > > Here is a relevant study in press at ToP. > > > Evaluating the Electronic Textbook: > > Is it Time to Dispense with the Paper Text? > > > > Jodi L. Grace > > Erika J. Koch > > James Shepperd > > University of Florida > > > >Abstract > > > > The electronic textbook provides students with an alternative to the > traditional paper textbook. We examined how students perceive the electronic > > text and how classroom performance with the two formats compare. Students > from an introductory psychology class (N = 392) chose between > > purchasing the paper or electronic text. Survey responses revealed no > significant difference in course grades between the two formats. However, > > students using the electronic text reported spending less time reading for > class compared to those students using the paper text, and generally > > evaluated the electronic text unfavorably. No student who purchased an > electronic text in a prior class chose to purchase it for introductory > psychology. > > These findings suggest that it may be premature to abandon the paper text in > favor of the electronic text. ***Copy of full version available from > authors*** > > > **************************************************** > Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. > Department Chair and Associate Professor of > Psychology > Dickinson College, P.O. Box 1773 > Carlisle, PA 17013 > Office: (717) 245-1562, Fax: (717) 245-1971 > http://alpha.dickinson.edu/departments/psych/helwegm > > **************************************************** > > > ------------------------------------------------ > > From: David Campbell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 1:15 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: [tips] E-Texts vs. Hard Copy Texts > I am currently reaching an online section of intro > psyc using the Myers text with PsychPortal as our > website (access code packaged with the text). Next > semester, I may have the option of allowing > students to purchase the PsychPortal access card > alone. This website comes with 12-month access to > the complete Myers text as an e-book (with hot > links to videos and research simulations, reading > "tools" for highlighting, adding notes, etc.). My > question for TIPS is whether anyone has experience > teaching a course using an e-text in place of the > traditional hardcopy. Or would anyone venture an > opinion without direct experience? > > My own experience is that it is difficult and > tiring to read text for extended periods of time > from a computer screen. And highlighting, writing > notes, etc. seems to work better when I am working > with printed paper as opposed to a computer > screen. I find myself printing out research > articles when I want to really work them over for > studying or editing. Would I be doing the students > a favor by encouraging them to forgo the printed > text and work only from an e-text next semester? > They will save some money doing so but will there > be a cost in the quality of their education? > > -Dave > > -- > > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > David E. Campbell, Ph.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Department of Psychology Phone: > 707-826-3721 > Humboldt State University FAX: > 707-826-4993 > Arcata, CA 95521-8299 > www.humboldt.edu/~campbell/psyc.htm > > --- > To make changes to your subscription go to: > http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english > > --- > To make changes to your subscription go to: > http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english > > ------------------------------------------------ > > Kick back and relax with hot games and cool > activities at the Messenger Café. Play now! > > --- > To make changes to your subscription go to: > http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english ---
