Why Book Reading is Better than Screen Reading and The Benefits of Buying Second Hand Books Online

Do you want to know how many people live in India today? Your best bet is to use the internet. Do you need a refresher on the moon's phases? Go ahead and read a story on the internet (or two or three). If you truly need to study something, though, print is definitely the best option. Or, at the very least, that's what a lot of recent studies suggests. Many studies have demonstrated that people don't understand what they read on-screen as well as they do while reading in print. Worse, many people are unaware that they aren't getting it. Researchers in Spain and Israel, for example, examined 54 studies that compared digital and print reading. More than 171,000 readers took part in their 2018 study. 

They discovered that when participants read print texts rather than digital texts, their comprehension was better overall. The findings were published in Educational Research Review by the researchers. Patricia Alexander is a psychologist at College Park's University of Maryland. She is interested in how we learn. Her studies have focused on the contrasts between reading in print and reading on a screen. According to Alexander, kids frequently believe that reading online will help them learn more. However, when evaluated, it was discovered that they had learned less than while reading in print. Why is this the case? 

Here are the reasons why book reading is better than screen reading; in addition, we have also covered the benefits of buying second hand books online. 

Underestimations 

Researchers discovered that when students read longer texts, teachers tend to underestimate the harmful influence of digital technology, while students are more likely to be overconfident in their comprehension capacity. Dr Marcus-Quinn, on the other hand, advised against completely abandoning technology, stating that shorter writings, such as poetry, can be read on screens. She said she's working on studies that shows that access to layers of richer content on screens, such as deeper study of the text, can enhance engagement with poetry. As part of a larger research project, a group of over 200 researchers and scientists have been studying the influence of digitalization on reading habits across the EU. 

Recall and absorb Additional Information 

Anyone who reads from a book rather than a screen absorbs more knowledge. Participants who studied digitally spent less time and had worse comprehension scores, according to Ackerman and Goldsmith (2011). Students can use print books to track their progress and double-check the content they've learned. The ability to highlight, underline, and bookmark important information helps students maintain a more constant level of performance. 

Light 

The way eyes interact with light differs between screens and books. When we read on displays, light passes through the screen and hits our retinas directly. This is why Marshall McLuhan, a media theorist, referred to screens as "light through" media. We tend to scan displays rather than focus on them since it is difficult for our eyes to stare at direct light for lengthy periods of time. (In fact, if we spend too much time staring at direct light from displays, we may get digital eye strain, often known as computer vision syndrome.) Quick side note: While anti-reflective coating on eyeglasses might help reduce glare from direct light, our eyes will still scan displays whenever light shines straight at them.) 

When we read a book, however, light reflects off the paper before reaching our eyes. As a result, McLuhan referred to books as "light on" media rather than "light through" media like screens (McLuhan, 1962, p 105). Unlike direct light, reflected light allows our eyes to focus on printed pages for extended periods of time. Simply explained, focusing on books is more comfortable for our eyes than focusing on screens. In conclusion, because displays transmit direct light, we tend to scan them. Books, on the other hand, reflect light and make it easier to focus. As a result, books are better for visual attention than screens, but screens are better for visual scanning. 

Distractions are less likely to occur. 

Students who read e-books rather than print books are more likely to become sidetracked. This isn't just due to the ease with which people can access the internet. Readers who use digital devices spend more time scanning keywords, which helps to break up their reading. Multimedia-enhanced e-books can be particularly distracting. Despite the fact that books may temporarily engage readers, readers remember fewer story points in the end than print readers. E-readers aren't always capable of recalling the information they've read. They can also have a harder time understanding what they're reading. 

Haptics 

Another distinction between screens and books is the tactile experiences that these media allow. When we say haptic, we're referring to the sensations our arms, hands, and fingers have when reaching out to grab something. Consider the tactile sensation of reading a book. We use hand-eye coordination to feel the weight of what we're viewing when we touch and turn through the pages. This allows us to not only see but also feel the book, determining if it is large or little, thick or thin. The cognitive effect of coordinating visual concentration with haptic experience is unique. It immerses our minds in a state of intense focus (Mangen, 2008). 

Screens do not reproduce this haptic sensation; hence they do not assist us in achieving a state of concentration. A new form of tactile experience is provided by screens. They're better for scrolling over text or zooming in and out of images, such as when looking for a specific piece of information, such as a term or graphic. This distinction has interesting consequences for how we recall what we read. Reading books gives us a tactile sensation that helps us concentrate, which aids memory retention and recall. Readers who read books rather than screens, for example, have an easier time recalling what they've read (Jabr, April 2013; Jabr, November 2013). 

As a result, books are superior than screens at concentrating and recalling content from memory when it comes to reading. Screens, on the other hand, are superior than books for swiftly finding or sorting through information. 

Increase the Pleasure of Reading 

Students might enjoy the genuine pleasure of reading through textbooks. For a variety of factors, print book sales are on the rise. Print books not only provide a conventional way of reading, but they also last a long time. Books that a pupil can grasp and move through can both motivate them and keep them from being distracted. They also give a pupil additional independence. This is due to the fact that students can take down notes, underline essential points, and refer back to them. This is a great example for children to follow! 

For in-depth reading, books are preferable to screens. 

To summarize, books are superior for learning that requires concentration, recalling, and reflecting due to light, haptics, and distractions (as opposed to scanning, searching, or multitasking). That is why, when it comes to concentration or deep reading, books are preferable to screens (and not merely skimming). 

Deep reading entails reading a text carefully and deliberately. Deep reading, as opposed to skimming, aims to improve reading comprehension and comprehend depth of meaning (Wolf, 2018, p 92; Birkerts, 1994, p 146). This ability is sometimes referred to as "reading between the lines" by literature teachers. 

Second Hand Books Online 

"You can't buy happiness, but you can purchase a book, and that's kind of the same thing," says a quotation that any bookworm would agree with. That experience is amplified when you buy a used book; it's also more cheap and healthier for the environment. The following are some of the advantages of buying used books online, according to Gumtree: 

Why Buy Second Hand Books Online? 

Second hand books are cheaper than new books 

When compared to buying new books in a bookshop, buying second hand books online can save time, money, and effort. 

Satisfaction of second hand books 

Second hand books have a certain charm and magic about them that newer books may lack. Faded pages, unreadable notes, and the smell of used books all contribute to the allure of second hand books as a reading experience. 

Eco-friendly second hand books 

Second hand books are better for the environment since they save resources, trees, and raw materials. 

Buying second hand books enhances your library collection 

Buying old second hand books allows you to realize a lifelong desire of amassing your own collection or little library of books from all genres without breaking the budget. 

Broaden your horizons with second hand books. 

The trend in new bookstores is to stock the most popular books based on a bestsellers list, or books that everyone wants to read. However, you never know what you might find in a second hand bookstore — a first edition of a masterpiece or a long-lost treasure. 

We all understand the importance of reading and instilling the habit in our children. But how does it help in particular? According to Usedbooksfactory: 

• Enhances your creativity 

• Expands your lexicon and knowledge base 

• Provides more mental stimulation 

• It aids in the reduction of stress. 

• Memory and cognitive reasoning are enhanced. 

• Enhances analytical reasoning 

• Assists with concentration and focus. 

Now that you've learned about the benefits of buying second hand books, it's time to go shopping! Visit Usedbooksfactory to purchase discounted second hand books from the convenience of your own home.