Full Citation
Singer, L. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2017). Reading on Paper and Digitally: What the Past Decades of Empirical Research Reveal. Review of Educational Research, 87(6), 1007-1041.
Publication Type
Comprehensive literature review (decades of research)
What They Studied
Researchers reviewed decades of empirical research comparing reading on paper versus digital devices to understand when and why the medium matters.
Key Findings
The medium effect is real:
- Paper reading generally leads to better comprehension than screen reading
- The difference is more pronounced for complex texts requiring deep understanding
- Time pressure increases the paper advantage – under time constraints, paper readers comprehend more
- Metacognition (awareness of one’s understanding) is better with paper – people are more accurate at judging whether they understood what they read
Why screens reduce comprehension:
- Shallow processing: Screens encourage skimming and scanning rather than deep reading
- Navigation issues: Scrolling and lack of physical landmarks make it harder to form a mental map of the text
- Distractions: Digital environments have more competing stimuli
- Multitasking temptation: Screens invite task-switching
Why This Matters for Schools
This comprehensive review confirms that digital reading is not equivalent to print reading for educational purposes. Schools cannot simply replace textbooks with tablets and expect the same learning outcomes.
The finding about metacognition is particularly concerning: students reading on screens may not even realise they’ve understood less, creating a false sense of competence.
What Parents Should Know
Your child may feel they’re learning just as well from screens (“it’s fine, Mum, I can read on the iPad”) but research shows they’re likely comprehending less and less aware of their reduced comprehension.
This is particularly problematic for:
- Exam revision (time pressure increases paper advantage)
- Complex subjects requiring deep understanding
- Longer texts (novels, textbook chapters)
