Judith Wylie

I am interested in how text comprehension and memory are affected by the use of digital media.  Having previously looked at how different text structures were optimal for readers with differing levels of topic knowledge, I suggest that it might be valuable to consider whether the structures commonly used in print media (e.g. compare and contrast, question and answer) serve the reader in a similar way in digital media.  Using a blend of eye-tracking and online data from devices, as well as post-reading assessments, a project could investigate whether different expository structures support knowledge acquisition for readers with varying levels of knowledge, regardless of the medium of reading.

In a related vein, my knowledge and interest aligns with WG4 and its associated questions concerning how comprehension is affected by ‘where one is in a book’, and the mental representation of events and characters that is constructed during reading.  A comparison of what kind of information is retained – and for how – after reading either print or digital media is also needed. I foresee that similar materials for reading and testing could be used across activities in the two Working Groups.  I would be interested in assisting with the development of these materials and coordinating data collection.