Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
06:45

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Published on: April 18, 2017

Computer- vs. paper-based tasks: are they equivalent?

Jan M Noyes1, Kate J Garland

  • 1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, 12A Priory Road, Bristol, UK. j.noyes@bristol.ac.uk

Ergonomics
|September 20, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

On the edge: haptic discrimination of edge sharpness.

PloS one·2013
Same author

Selection of image fusion quality measures: objective, subjective, and metric assessment.

Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision·2007
Same author

Assessment of fused videos using scanpaths: a comparison of data analysis methods.

Spatial vision·2007
Same author

Mobile telephones, computers, and the internet: sex differences in adolescents' use and attitudes.

Cyberpsychology & behavior : the impact of the Internet, multimedia and virtual reality on behavior and society·2007
Same author

A self-analysis of the NASA-TLX workload measure.

Ergonomics·2007

Reading from screens versus paper remains debated, especially for online assessments. While full equivalence isn't achieved, technology and user attitudes are closing the gap in reading performance.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Educational Technology

Background:

  • The debate on reading equivalence between paper and digital screens persists, particularly with the rise of online assessment tools.
  • Previous reviews, like Dillon's in 1992, highlighted disparities, but technological advancements necessitate updated analyses.
  • Many traditional paper-based assessments are digitized without fully considering media-specific implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize empirical literature on reading performance differences between paper and screen over the last 15 years.
  • To contrast recent findings with Dillon's (1992) seminal review on the paper vs. screen reading debate.
  • To evaluate the progress towards achieving media equivalence in reading and assessment tasks.

Main Methods:

More Related Videos

A Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program Targeting Technology Based Everyday Functional Skills
07:31

A Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program Targeting Technology Based Everyday Functional Skills

Published on: February 13, 2020

Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking
07:00

Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking

Published on: April 30, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
06:45

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Published on: April 18, 2017

A Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program Targeting Technology Based Everyday Functional Skills
07:31

A Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program Targeting Technology Based Everyday Functional Skills

Published on: February 13, 2020

Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking
07:00

Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking

Published on: April 30, 2020

  • Systematic literature review of studies published in the last 15 years comparing paper and screen reading performance.
  • Analysis of performance measures and user attitudes across various reading and assessment tasks.
  • Contrastive analysis of recent findings against historical data from Dillon's (1992) review.

Main Results:

  • Complete equivalence between paper and screen reading is not yet achievable.
  • Significant advancements in computer technology, measurement techniques, and user acceptance have narrowed the performance gap.
  • The impact of media differences on performance is highly dependent on the specific task and desired outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • While perfect equivalence remains elusive, the gap between paper and screen reading performance is diminishing due to technological and attitudinal shifts.
  • The practical significance of observed differences is task-specific, requiring careful consideration during the digitization of assessments.
  • Future research should focus on nuanced comparisons that account for task demands and user interaction with digital media.