Title Page
Abstract
Contents
Introduction 7
1.1. The Scope and Context of the Study 7
1.2. Overview of the Research 10
1.3. Research Objectives 13
Literature Review 15
2.1. Introduction 15
2.2. An Overview of Extensive Reading: its Implementations 15
2.2.1. The Development of Extensive Reading Implementations 18
2.3. Using Digital Books for Extensive Reading 23
2.4. How Books are Read 24
2.4.1. A History of Reading Devices 25
2.5. Onscreen vs. Paper Reading 29
2.6. Conclusion 41
Methodology 43
3.1. Overview of the Study 43
3.2. How Extensive Reading was Modified for the Study 44
3.2.1. The Oral and Paper Assessments 45
3.2.2. How Extensive Reading was Implemented in the Classroom 46
3.3. Target Group 47
3.4. Materials 47
3.4.1. The Paper Books 47
3.4.2. The Digital Books 48
3.5. The Pre-study Questionnaire 50
3.6. The Post-study Questionnaire 50
3.7. Limitations and Weaknesses 51
Results 52
4.1. The Pre-Study Results 52
4.2. The Participation and Post Study Survey 55
4.3. Additional Findings 57
Discussion 63
5.1. Introduction 63
5.2. Why Students Preferred Paper Books Overall 65
5.3. How each of the Results can be Interpreted According to these Views 66
5.3.1. Students confirmed their preference for paper books in their individual ratings. 66
5.3.2. Students were more likely to pass oral assessments when they read paper books. 67
5.3.3. Students reported that they skimmed more often when reading digital books. 67
5.3.4. Students took more and longer breaks when reading digital books. 67
5.3.5. Students were slightly more likely to reread passages when they read paper. 67
5.3.6. Students understood slightly more of the language when reading paper books. 67
5.3.7. Students considered printing the PDFs but almost none actually did. 68
5.3.8. Students preferred to read from PCs rather than tablets and smart phones. 68
5.3.9. Students would rather own paper books. 68
5.3.10. Students found paper books more "comfortable" and less of a strain in the eyes. 69
5.4. Conclusion 70
Recommendations 73
References 75
Appendices 80
Pre-Study Questionnaire 81
Post-Study Questionnaire 82
Sample Quiz 83
Student Log and Waiver 84
Primer 85
TABLE 1. Pre-Study Question #1 52
TABLE 2. Pre-Study Question #2 52
TABLE 3. Pre-Study Question #3 52
TABLE 4. Pre-Study Question #4 53
TABLE 5. Pre-Study Question #5 53
TABLE 6. Pre-Study Question #6 53
TABLE 7. Pre-Study Question #7 53
TABLE 8. Pre-Study Question #8 54
TABLE 9. Pre-Study Question #9 54
TABLE 10. The "Unreadyness-to-hand" of Digital Reading Devices 70
TABLE 11. Blattner's Equipment Chart 72
FIGURE 1. Post-Study Overall Preference 55
FIGURE 2. Reported Enjoyment Comparison 56
FIGURE 3. Comparison of Ratings between Formats 57
FIGURE 4. Oral Assessment Pass/Fail Rates 58
FIGURE 5. Effectiveness Comparison 60
FIGURE 6. Skimming and Scanning Comparison 60