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Article published In:
Scientific Study of Literature
Vol. 11:1 (2021) ► pp.74–107

Absorbing narratives and Motivation to Read

A mode-effect study on young readers

| University of Helsinki
| Aalto University

Digital reading has established its position, and thus research on how reading mode affects reading experience and enjoyment is needed. This study is based on a reading experiment with 89 14–15-year-olds who read or listened to an entire book in four different reading modes: paperbook, ebook, audiobook, and via a commercial subscription service. Using quantitative methods, we examine whether reading mode affects story world absorption as well as seek connections between gender, motivation, absorption and reading mode preferences. Based on the study, reading mode has no statistical impact on narrative absorption experience, measured by the Story World Absorption Scale. Instead, the experience correlates with reading motivation; an adolescent with higher motivation is more likely to feel absorbed while reading, regardless of reading mode. On average, girls experience higher reading motivation and absorption than boys. Less motivated seem to prefer audiobook whereas more motivated choose reading over listening.

Keywords: audiobook, ebook, media effects, narrative absorption, reading motivation, adolescents
Article outline
  • Theoretical background
    • Reading on-screen versus reading in print
    • Reading for pleasure and absorbing reading experiences
  • Methods
    • Participants
    • Reading materials and modes
    • Questionnaires
      • Motivation to Read Profile
      • Story World Absorption Scale
    • Procedures
    • Statistical analyses
  • Results
    • Reading motivation
    • Story World Absorption
    • Is there relationship between motivation to read and story world absorption?
    • Does the reading mode determine the Magnitude of Story World Absorption?
    • Motivation to read, gender and Story World Absorption
    • Motivation to read and chosen reading mode
  • Discussion
    • Main results of the study
    • Motivation correlated to absorption experience
    • No differences between reading modes in terms of absorption experience
    • Gender differences
    • Limitations of the study
    • Main implications of the study
  • References
Published online: 17 December 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ssol.20009.ros
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