ERIC Number: ED607856
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jun
Pages: 18
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Children, Young People and Audiobooks before and during Lockdown. National Literacy Trust Research Report
Best, Emily; Clark, Christina; Picton, Irene
National Literacy Trust
Audiobooks have become increasingly popular in the digital age: streaming and subscription services, such as Audible and Spotify, have made audio stories available to a wide commercial audience, while apps like Libby and BorrowBox facilitate 'borrowing' of audiobooks from library services. With access easier and more widespread than ever, it is important to consider the potential benefits that audiobooks can offer to children and young people. In February 2020 the authors published a literature review on current research around literacy and audiobooks. Findings included evidence that audiobooks can: (1) Improve children and young people's reading skills and enjoyment of reading; (2) Support children and young people's emotional intelligence and wellbeing; (3) Improve children and young people's reading comprehension; and (4) Widen children and young people's access to books. Alongside this, the authors were commissioned by the Publishers Association to explore the use of audiobooks and their link to wider literacy engagement from the point of view of children and young people. The UK went into lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March, which meant that schools closed for all but children of key workers and those deemed most vulnerable. However, given the suddenly changed environment the world was in, the authors were also keen to capture any possible changes to children and young people's literacy practices as a result of lockdown. This report shows: (1) wider engagement with audiobooks during lockdown; (2) the impact on reading and writing behaviours; (3) that listening to audiobooks supports children and young people's mental wellbeing; and (4) the correlation between audiobooks, boys and teenagers. [For the literature review, "Audiobooks and Literacy: A Rapid Review of the Literature. A National Literacy Trust Research Report," see ED607775.]
Descriptors: Electronic Publishing, Literacy Education, Reading Skills, Reading Attitudes, Emotional Intelligence, Well Being, Reading Comprehension, COVID-19, Pandemics, School Closing, Reading Habits, Writing (Composition), Correlation, Males, Adolescents, Foreign Countries, Audio Books, Gender Differences, Age Differences
National Literacy Trust. Swire House, 59 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AJ, UK. Tel: +44-2078-282435; Fax: +44-2079-319986; e-mail: contact@literacytrust.org.uk; Web site: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: National Literacy Trust (United Kingdom)
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A