Profiles of Readers in a Digital Age

Abstract

This study examined typologies of young adults as readers in the digital age (N = 993). Latent profile analysis (LPA) results showed that across different modes (printed, online, and social media) and purposes (academic and recreational) of reading, four distinctive reader groups emerged: low-interest readers, traditional readers, moderate readers, and high-interest readers. While there was an absence of the group who may read exclusively online, people with a higher level of reading interest would read a lot, and those with a lower level of reading interest would not engage themselves in reading, irrespective of different types of reading modes.

Notes

1 ANOVA was used to examine the statistical differences on each of the 15 variables across the four classes. The ANOVA and Scheffe post-hoc group comparison test results showed that the groups differed from each other on most of the 15 constructs, with several exceptions (i.e., no statistical differences between Class 2 and Class 4 on enjoyment of reading in print setting and flow in academic reading and between Class 1 and Class 2 on confidence in online reading, enjoyment of online reading, competence experience in online reading, flow in online reading, and enjoyment of social media reading).