by Lorinda K. F. Newton

Although I married a software engineer and learned to use a PC to write articles in 1991 and got an AOL email address in 1994, I initially turned to hard copy resources for homeschooling in 2004 because that’s what I knew.

My kids, however, refused to use a paper dictionary, thesaurus, or encyclopedia (Okay, my set is from the 1970s) once they learned to use a computer.

Today, most of us don’t often look up information from paper sources either. In many places, you can’t even get a phone book anymore. (Our island community still prints them, though.)

A quick web search to find facts such as the capital of Armenia is one thing. But what about reading long articles and books? Which is better, paper or digital texts?

Old School Paper

As a bibliophile, I prefer paper books, even old, musty ones at used bookstores. My heart exults as I leaf through vintage tomes with uneven yellow pages and tissue covers overlaying the few photograph illustrations.

Not all enjoy antique books, but many share my preference for hard copy texts. For instance, some college professors have noticed that most students actually prefer print texts over digital, despite the extra cost.

For example, my husband is currently attending an online seminary. His tuition includes access to electronic texts for each class. However, he purchases the print versions because he finds them easier to read.

Our daughter also prefers print texts over digital ones. Her brother, however, enjoys reading online.

Researchers Find Paper Is Best

Researchers have found that people retain material better if they read it from paper. Yet, this subject lacks thorough study. Educational psychologist and literacy scholar Patricia Alexander reviewed 878 studies published between 1992 and 2017 that might address this issue. However, she only found 36 studies that compared print and electronic text reading outcomes.

Despite the lack of definitive studies, most of the articles I read (online—where I do most of my research) stated that students of all ages comprehend and retain information best if they read from a hard copy.

Researchers from Spain and Israel examined 54 studies that represented more than 171,000 readers using print and electronic text. They found that people who read from paper demonstrated a higher comprehension level than those who read from a digital copy. This is true even when young children read picture books.

Why Comprehension Drops with Screen Reading

Alexander pointed out that most of what people read on a screen are text messages or social media posts. “Their eyes scan the pages and the words faster than if they’re reading on a piece of paper.” This puts readers into a skimming mode, and thus they are less likely to pick up all the details.

Maryanne Wolf of the University of California Los Angeles, who studies how the brain reads, discovered that the brain connects to different cells when reading online than when reading print text. She also noted that people are more likely to skim when reading a screen and that the brain finds it easier to do deep-reading when using print.

The problems with digital reading include the following. (Many of these points come from “Will You Learn Better from Reading on a Screen or on Paper?”)

Overestimated abilities. Virginia Clinton of the University of North Dakota found that screen readers tend to overestimate their capabilities and don’t put in the effort needed to read a digital text carefully. Instead, they fall into the skimming mode they use when reading texts and social media.

Eye strain. When reading a screen, people don’t blink as much as they do when reading print. This causes dry eyes and fatigue.

The loss of the sense of place. When reading a hard copy, the mind will map the pages. A reader can remember that a specific piece of information was on the top of page 125. This sense of place is lost when scrolling through a long text online.

Scrolling requires more effort. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a neuroscientist at the University of Southern California Los Angeles, found that when a reader has to keep up with a scrolling page, he has fewer mental resources left for understanding what he’s reading.

Genre matters. Research demonstrates that one reads nonfiction better on a hard copy, but it doesn’t make a difference when one reads fiction. The researchers have yet to know why that’s the case.

Screen reading can be distracting. One can be distracted by ads and pop-up or ding notifications when one reads online. Even on a Kindle, one can be led down a rabbit trail by following hyperlinks onto the internet. Or a digital text’s multimedia capabilities can break up the flow of reading.

Digital Reading

Even though comprehension and retention from reading paper documents supersede reading from electronic ones, digital reading is here to stay. It even has some advantages over print.

Above, I mentioned that hyperlinks and multimedia features of electronic textbooks can distract a reader. Still, they can also enrich a reading experience. The key is to have self-control and focus on one’s reading goal.

For instance, I enjoy the ability to click on an unfamiliar word in Kindle and have the definition pop up. This feature can benefit younger readers by improving their comprehension of a text. Embedded videos or interactive maps can also enhance understanding. But if I have limited time to finish the material, I must refrain from clicking on every link that attracts my curiosity.

Other advantages to digital publications:

• They are cheaper than print books, particularly textbooks.
• They don’t take up space, use wood resources, or weigh down a backpack.
• They are searchable. This comes in handy when you are looking for a particular passage. I mentioned that my husband preferred to read hard copies of his textbooks. However, he also uses the electronic books to find sections to quote and copy-and-paste into his papers.
• Some digital documents allow the reader to change the font and colors to improve the reading experience. For example, a unique typeface has been created to assist people with dyslexia. Our niece, who’s legally blind, has a reader that changes the color of the fonts and background to help her read.
• Digital texts often have audible capabilities. This feature not only helps the visually impaired but also helps those who learn best by listening. My high school daughter prefers listening to audiobooks instead of reading the text.

Many periodicals and other publications are only available in digital format (such as this blog post). So, as a parent, you need to teach your children how to use this medium including how to avoid getting distracted when reading electronic publications.

Alexander’s report, co-authored by doctoral student Lauren Singer, stated that

“if you are reading something lengthy – more than 500 words or more than a page of the book or screen – your comprehension will likely take a hit if you’re using a digital device. The finding was supported by numerous studies and held true for students in college, high school and grade school.”

Paper or Digital?

What’s the bottom line? Experts recommend that children and students learn to use both reading media. But consider which medium works best for a given assignment. Long, nonfiction texts are best read in print, but the digital format can be used when reading short pieces and fiction.

Lorinda K. F. Newton began homeschooling her children in 2004, and her family joined Academy Northwest in 2014. Her family lives on beautiful Whidbey Island north of Seattle, Washington. She writes about faith, culture, and governing from a biblical worldview at Lorinda’s Ponderings. ©2022 by Lorinda K. F. Newton.