Abstract
This article reports key findings from a quantitative online survey of everyday reading practices (N = 282) that targeted library professionals and students enrolled in a library & information studies program in Denmark. The survey derived its rationale from the current upsurge in reading on smartphones, but was constructed so as to give a comprehensive overview of all devices used for reading, as well as to map how these devices potentially combine in our respondents’ reading behaviour with specific text genres and physical environments. The data documents a highly diversified reading ecology where most genres are read on most devices and where the resultant choices and preferences vary with gender, age, and instantaneous life situation. The clearest patterns emerge among our female respondents (N = 227; Mage = 39; range 19-64) who fall into distinct reader/user groups according to age. Most importantly, we found the variety of digital devices used for reading to increase rather than decrease with age, contrary to common assumptions. Meanwhile, the youngest of the female respondents seem to read in the greatest variety of environments, and to make the least use of printed reading materials.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Participations: Journal of Audience & Reception Studies |
| Vol/bind | 16 |
| Udgave nummer | 1 |
| ISSN | 1749-8716 |
| Status | Udgivet - 16 maj 2019 |
Emneord
- Det Humanistiske Fakultet
- Mobile phones
- quantitative methods
- reading environments
- digital technology
- female readers
- reading behaviour