Factors Influencing Digital Reading Behaviour of Students

A Study in Universities in Kerala

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to explore the factors influencing digital reading behavior of students. A survey with stratified random sample of 588 postgraduate students from the teaching departments of the universities in Kerala was used to conduct the study. The analysis revealed that majority of the students opined that with the availability of laptop, mobile phone and the Internet, their digital reading increases. There exists significant gender difference in the opinion of the students about the features like save, download, search, find and bookmark that helped them to read digitally. About half of the students mentioned that the factors like font size, text layout, type face and background colour are highly influencing while reading digitally. The students also responded that digital reading increases their selective reading, superficial reading, interactive reading, and decreases their in-depth reading, concentrated reading and sustained attention. Male students have significantly higher influence of e-resources on their reading practices than those of female students. This study is useful for professionals who are developing e-contents, e-resources and different types of e-learning interfaces