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UPI: Study: E-readers improve boys’ reading

UPI covered the research of Dara Williams-Rossi, clinical assistant professor and director of undergraduate programs in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development.

The article, Study: E-readers improve boys’ reading, published March 27.

UPI covered the research of Dara Williams-Rossi, clinical assistant professor and director of undergraduate programs in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development.

The article, Study: E-readers improve boys’ reading, published March 27.

The research found that middle school boys who are reluctant readers rated reading more valuable as an activity after two months of using an e-reader.

The students in the study were part of a reading improvement class in their school that included Amazon’s Kindle e-reader. After use of the e-readers, boys’ attitudes about the value of reading improved, while girls’ attitudes declined, said Williams-Rossi.

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EXCERPT:

UPI.com
DALLAS, March 27 (UPI) — Boys who are reluctant readers find reading a more valuable activity after two months of using an e-reader, researchers in Texas say.

Scientists at Southern Methodist University reported the findings based on a study of 199 middle school students who struggled with reading and participated in a reading improvement class that employed Amazon’s Kindle e-reader.

Boys consistently had a higher self-concept of their reading skill than girls both before and after using e-readers, researcher Dara Williams-Rossi said.

After use of the e-readers, boys’ attitudes about the value of reading improved, while girls’ attitudes declined, she said.

“The technology appeared to motivate the boys to read while many girls preferred the actual books,” Williams-Rossi said.

“It may be that they prefer curling up with actual books and that they enjoy sharing their reading with their friends.”

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By Margaret Allen

Senior research writer, SMU Public Affairs