This study sought to find out whether educated Arabs read paper or digital materials; which reading technologies they use; amount of material they read; the place where they read; how much time they spend on reading; when they read; how they reduce distractions; how they motivate themselves to read; how they interact with the text; their reading…

For this study of specific values that adult readers derive from their reading, 100 people from eastern central Illinois were interviewed about their reading experiences. All persons selected for interview were identified as having a continuing interest in reading, reflected in regular voluntary reading. The interviews were analyzed for…

Quantifies and analyzes the reading activities of members of four occupational groups within a community: professional/managerial, small business/clerical, skilled crafts workers, and unskilled workers. (AEA)

This survey drew on a variety of national surveys and book industry publication and sales statistics to examine the number and kinds of people reading fiction, poetry, and drama. The survey used data from three different national surveys of readers conducted in the mid-1980s and including over 30,000 subjects to conclude that while literature…

Contends there is a disparity between the humorous books children choose to read and the humorous books adults choose for children to read. Finds this merits attention because research has consistently indicated that humor is children's strongest preference for reading material. Identifies and examines humorous books; finds different choices…

Examines how newspaper readers differ in their likely adoption of videotex. Suggests that complementary use of the two media will be more likely than use of only newspapers or videotex. (PD)

Highlights the major findings from a study of reading, particularly book reading, among adults. Discusses reading habits, sources of reading material, and attitudes toward reading, as well as demographic information. Concludes that reading does not substitute for, but rather goes along with, involvement in other leisure activities. (JMF)

Before launching any publications, a newly formed publishing company in New Delhi, India, surveyed its potential readership to develop a demographic overview of the community, to determine patterns and preferences of magazine use, and to develop a profile of perceived and real readership needs. A questionnaire eliciting such information was given…

Stories relating to life experiences were tape-recorded in an informal setting using natural language patterns and familiar topics in this study of peer-prepared reading materials for black adults. Three of the stories were written at different levels of difficulty according to the Automated Readability Index (ARI). The stories were presented to a…

A total of 59 Senegalese adult and college students filled out a questionnaire in a study designed to gather data about their reading habits. The 15-item instrument, written in English and French, required yes or no responses to questions that described students' satisfaction with reading ability, types of materials read, perceptions of reading…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The ten titles deal with the following topics: passage integrity and type of instruction in prose learning; college student self-concept and reading gain in two instructional methods; the consequences for adults of childhood…