Reading from paper versus screens: A critical review of the empirical literature
Open accessAbstract
The advent of widespread computer use in general and increasing developments in the domain of hypertext in particular have increased awareness of the issue of reading electronic text. To date the literature has been dominated by reference to work on overcoming speed deficits resulting from poor image quality but an emerging literature reveals a more complex set of variables at work. The present review considers the differences between the media in terms of outcomes and processes of reading and concludes that single variable explanations are insufficient to capture the range of issues involved in reading from screens.
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- Authors
- DILLON, A.
- Affiliations
- Loughborough University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- DILLON, ANDREW
- ORCID
- DILLON, ANDREW
- Venue
- Ergonomics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1992-10
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1297-1326
- ISSN
- 0014-0139 (ISSN-L)
- 1366-5847
- OpenAlex
- W2109515547
- Cited by
- 523
- References
- 77
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 4.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- Ergonomics (publishedVersion)
- UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Gaze Tracking and Assistive Technology
- Keywords
- hypertext, reading speed, image quality, reading process, reading outcomes
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