ERIC Number: EJ1165947
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Feb
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0141-0423
EISSN: N/A
Individual Variation in Children's Reading Comprehension across Digital Text Types
Fesel, Sabine S.; Segers, Eliane; Verhoeven, Ludo
Journal of Research in Reading, v41 n1 p106-121 Feb 2018
The present study examined children's digital text comprehension of digital text types linear digital text vs hypertext, with or without graphical navigable overviews. We investigated to what extent individual variation in children's comprehension could be explained by lexical quality (word reading efficiency and vocabulary knowledge), cognitive load factors (prior knowledge and working memory), text type and graphical overview. Participants were 93 sixth graders in a within-subject design. Word reading efficiency, vocabulary knowledge and prior knowledge predicted children's digital comprehension scores, while working memory did not. Reading comprehension was equal for linear text or hypertext. However, the presence of an overview facilitated reading comprehension for readers with lower prior knowledge. It can be concluded that hypertexts with basic digital text features and accompanying comprehension questions are not more difficult for children than linear digital texts, that similar individual factors predict reading comprehension of linear text and hypertext, and that a graphical overview helps when prior knowledge is low.
Descriptors: Reading Comprehension, Individual Differences, Electronic Learning, Electronic Publishing, Layout (Publications), Word Study Skills, Reading Fluency, Vocabulary Development, Grade 6, Prior Learning, Text Structure, Reading Achievement
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A