Students’ reading behavior: Digital vs. Print preferences in Portuguese context

Abstract

This paper presents and discusses data from a survey on students’ reading format preferences and behavior considering digital or print options. The questionnaire was administered in Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal, and 262 complete answers were gathered, mainly from undergraduates. The analysis of the results will be contextualized on a literature review concerning youngsters’ reading format preferences. The importance of language and text dimension to determine the preference format is discussed. Format influence in the students reading behavior, including aspects such as ability to remember, opinions on access convenience, active engagement with the text by highlighting and annotating, and ability to review and concentrate on the text will be analyzed.