The development of adolescents' comprehension-based Internet reading activities

Abstract

Internet-based reading involves integration and evaluation of information from different sources and different formats, but also requires fluent navigation skills for adequate comprehension. The effects of linguistic (word decoding and comprehension-based print reading) and non-cognitive factors (reading frequency and self-efficacy) have extensively been studied for print reading; we know very little about their role in Internet reading, which is our focus in this study. 558 students from grades 7 to 10 performed a set of comprehension-based Internet reading tasks on a computer, while their navigation and comprehension scores were recorded. They were also assessed on print reading literacy, word decoding, Internet reading frequency and self-efficacy. Multiple regression analyses suggest that navigation skills increase proportionally with grade level and that print reading literacy and comprehension-based Internet reading share common processes. Moreover, the positive effect of navigation efficiency on Internet comprehension increases in higher grade levels. Finally, reading frequency of the Internet for informational purposes predicts Internet comprehension scores, and self-efficacy predicts more persistent and quicker navigation.