Equivalence of Screen Versus Print Reading Comprehension Depends on Task Complexity and Proficiency

ABSTRACT

As reading and reading assessment become increasingly implemented on electronic devices, the question arises whether reading on screen is comparable with reading on paper. To examine potential differences, we studied reading processes on different proficiency and complexity levels. Specifically, we used data from the standardization sample of the German reading comprehension test ELFE II (n = 2,807), which assesses reading at word, sentence, and text level with separate speeded subtests. Children from grades 1 to 6 completed either a test version on paper or via computer under time constraints. In general, children in the screen condition worked faster but at the expense of accuracy. This difference was more pronounced for younger children and at the word level. Based on our results, we suggest that remedial education and interventions for younger children using computer-based approaches should likewise foster speed and accuracy in a balanced way.

Funding

Norming of the reading comprehension test ELFE II (Lenhard, Lenhard, & Schneider, 2017) was funded by Hogrefe Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen, Germany. W. Lenhard and A. Lenhard receive royalties from sales of this test.

Notes

¹ The test mainly differentiates test-takers via working speed at the word level and less pronounced also at the sentence level. We therefore drew on a performance measure by summing the number of solved items and dividing this sum by the logarithmized time used to work on the items. We applied that calculation separately for odd and even item numbers and correlated these two measures to obtain an odd–even split-half correlation. This measure could be calculated only for the CB mode, because time on task per item was only available in the CB assessment.

Additional information

Funding

Norming of the reading comprehension test ELFE II (Lenhard, Lenhard, & Schneider, 2017) was funded by Hogrefe Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen, Germany. W. Lenhard and A. Lenhard receive royalties from sales of this test.