Effects of page turning in sequential literary reading on reading performance and comprehension

Projekt im Forschungsseminar Master Medieninformatik

This study investigates the effects of page turning in sequential literary reading on reading performance and comprehension, comparing paper, monitor and eReader. With the rise of digital reading, understanding how the absence of physical page-turning in digital devices affects user experience is crucial. Eye-tracking data were collected to analyze fixations and reading behavior across 30 participants engaging with literary texts. The results show that the medium (whether monitor, eReader, or paper) and different page-turning interactions did not significantly impact cognitive load or reading behavior, as evidenced by similar reading time and fixation and saccade patterns across all formats. However, a decrease in fixations per page over time was observed, which may suggest increased familiarity or reduced engagement with the text. The findings express a need for future studies to research this topic more and use higher precision equipment, an automated study procedure and record participants reading posture to additionally study how comfort and ergonomics affect reading comprehension, focus, and overall user experience.