VOA慢速英语2019--研究称纸上阅读比屏幕阅读更有效

Study: Paper Reading More Effective Than Screen Reading

If you want to make sure that you understand this story as fully¹ as possible, you might consider printing the article and reading it on paper. That is one of the findings of a recent study of research done on the differences between paper and screen reading.

Virginia Clinton carried out the research examination. She is a professor of Education, Health and Behavior at the University of North Dakota. She found what she called a “small but significant” difference in reading text from screen versus² paper.

Researchers have been investigating for years the ways in which screens affect the quality of a person’s reading. The magazine Scientific American reported that at least 100 studies have been published on the issue since the 1980s.

Until the early 1990s, most studies found that people read more slowly and with less accuracy on screens than on paper.

However, later studies show more mixed results. Some continued to report findings similar to those earlier studies. Others suggested technological³ improvements over the years had improved reading quality on screens.

Clinton’s aim was to bring together some of the most recent findings on reading performance, reading speed and a skill known as metacognition.

Clinton looked at 33 past studies that examined paper versus screen reading. All of the studies were done between 2008 and 2018. The studies collectively had 2,799 study subjects, including both children and adults. All were native English speakers and had usual reading skills for their age.

Clinton’s examination found that reading from paper generally led to better understanding and improved a person’s performance on tests connected to the reading material. And, she found no major differences in reading speed between the two. In other words, paper reading was found to be more efficient.

Such differences were notable⁴ only when the reading materials were expository texts-- or explanatory and based on fact. Clinton said she found no major difference when it came to narrative⁵, fictional⁶ texts.

Clinton also found that paper readers usually have a higher recognition⁷ of how well they have understood a text than screen readers. This skill is called metacognition. The word “cognition” means the mental action of increasing knowledge and understanding. “Metacognition” simply means thinking about one’s own thinking.

Clinton and other researchers have found screen readers often believe they understand a text better than they really do. And, they are more likely than paper readers to overestimate⁸ how well they would do on a test of the materials they have read.

Clinton said this is common among all readers.

She said, “We think that we’re reading the story or the book better than we actually are. We think we understand what we are reading better than how we are actually reading.”

Yet, this inflated⁹ sense of understanding, or overconfidence, is especially common among screen readers.

Clinton said there are many possible reasons for such findings. Overconfidence of screen readers, for example, could be the result of a distracted¹⁰, less focused mind.

Reader preference is also important, she said. Research shows the majority of people -- of all ages -- prefer reading from paper.

But, if someone prefers screen reading to paper reading, that person’s understanding of the material is not likely to suffer.

Clinton said, “If you are enjoying the reading process, you’re going to be more involved. You’re going to be paying better attention. Preferences are a key issue here.”

Several studies have found that people often think of paper materials as more important and serious.

“If you are reading from paper, your mind thinks, ‘This is something important. I need to pay attention to it',” Clinton said.

Readers might connect computer screens with fun, less serious activities – such as checking social media or watching Netflix. That, Clinton said, could explain why most studies find no major difference in screen and paper among narrative, fictional reading materials. Clinton described this kind of reading as “enjoyment reading.”

Don’t stop reading from screens

Although her findings may support paper reading over screen reading, Clinton says she does not believe screen reading should be avoided.

Instead, she points to new and developing tools that can be used to improve a screen reader’s understanding and focus.

“For example, when you’re reading off of a screen, it can be programmed that you have to answer questions and get them right before you can continue. Paper can’t make you do that.”

Other tools in development will offer students reading at a lower level more simple texts while providing their other classmates more complex versions of the same text.

Clinton said, “I think the answer, or appropriate response, to seeing findings like mine...is to think of ‘Okay, what can screen do that paper can’t do?’”

Clinton’s findings were published earlier this year in the Journal of Research in Reading. She also presented her results this month at the American Educational Research Association’s yearly meeting, held in Toronto, Canada.

I’m Caty Weaver¹¹.

And I’m Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

significant - adj. large enough to be noticed or have an effect

text - n. the original words of a piece of writing or a speech

efficient - adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy

distracted - adj. unable to think about or pay attention to something : unable to concentrate

focused - adj. giving attention and effort to a specific task or goal

appropriate - adj. right or suited for some purpose or situation

response - n. something that is said or written as a reply to something

1 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

2 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

3 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

4 notable   

adj.值得注意的，著名的；n.名人，要人

参考例句：

• His achievement is very notable.他的成就是非常显著的。
• He wrote and published the essay under notable's name.他假托名人写文章发表。

5 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

6 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

7 recognition   

n.承认，认可，认出，认识

参考例句：

• The place has changed beyond recognition.这地方变得认不出来了。
• A sudden smile of recognition flashed across his face.他脸上掠过一丝笑意，表示认识对方。

8 overestimate   

v.估计过高，过高评价

参考例句：

• Don't overestimate seriousness of the problem.别把问题看重了。
• We overestimate our influence and our nuisance value.我们过高地估计了自己的影响力和破坏作用。

9 inflated   

adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨

参考例句：

• He has an inflated sense of his own importance. 他自视过高。
• They all seem to take an inflated view of their collective identity. 他们对自己的集体身份似乎都持有一种夸大的看法。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 distracted   

a.注意力分散的，思想不集中的

参考例句：

• When working, one should concentrate and not allow oneself to be distracted. 工作时要集中精力，不要分心。
• Noise outside distracted her mind from her studies. 门外的噪音使她心神不宁，无法集中注意力学习。

11 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。