Reading & Literacy Report Roundup

Research Report: Reading

“Reading From Paper Compared to Screens: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
By Benjamin Herold — April 16, 2019 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A meta-analysis of nearly three-dozen research studies published over the past decade finds that reading from paper has a small, statistically significant benefit on reading performance.

One likely reason: Readers using screens tend to think they’re processing and understanding texts better then they actually are.

Furthermore, according to University of North Dakota assistant education professor Virginia Clinton, readers using paper saw better performance without having to expend more time or effort. Her findings were presented at the American Educational Research Association this month.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the April 17, 2019 edition of Education Week as Reading

Events

Webinar Supporting Older Struggling Readers: Tips From Research and Practice
Reading problems are widespread among adolescent learners. Find out how to help students with gaps in foundational reading skills.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
Improve Reading Comprehension: Three Tools for Working Memory Challenges
Discover three working memory workarounds to help your students improve reading comprehension and empower them on their reading journey.
Content provided by Solution Tree
Recruitment & Retention Webinar EdRecruiter 2026 Survey Results: How School Districts are Finding and Keeping Talent
Discover the latest K-12 hiring trends from EdWeek’s nationwide survey of job seekers and district HR professionals.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Reading & Literacy Letter to the Editor Experts Diss Small-Group Instruction. Why?
Experts shouldn't label the practice as ineffective, argues this letter to the editor.
1 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week
Reading & Literacy Video What Happens When Middle and High Schoolers Still Struggle to Read?
When it comes to reading, teachers and experts alike say that many older students still struggle with the basics.
1 min read
Students attend Bow Memorial School in Bow, N.H. on Oct. 29, 2025. Bow Memorial School is a middle school that has developed a systematic approach to addressing foundational reading gaps in middle school students.
Students attend Bow Memorial School in Bow, N.H. on Oct. 29, 2025. Bow Memorial School is a middle school that has developed a systematic approach to addressing foundational reading gaps in middle school students.
Sophie Park for Education Week
Reading & Literacy Opinion Yes, Small-Group Reading Instruction Works. But Use It Wisely
When is the best time to use the approach over whole-class literacy instruction?
Nell K. Duke & Claude Goldenberg
4 min read
Collage of different instruction types including, one-on-one, small group, and whole class instruction.
Getty Images + Education Week
Reading & Literacy How to Build a Reading Block: Two Teachers Share Their Approaches
Studies don't prescribe how best to knit together components of reading—leaving it up to teachers to devise.
7 min read
Students in Anjanette McNeely's class work on their letters during a reading block at Windridge Elementary School in Kaysville, Utah, on Dec. 4, 2025.
What's the best way to attend to all the elements of the 'science of reading' in a literacy block? Research doesn't specify a specific answer, but kindergarten teacher Anjanette McNeely has designed hers to incorporate foundational skills, content, and writing. McNeely's class works on their letters at Windridge Elementary School in Kaysville, Utah, on Dec. 4, 2025.
Niki Chan Wylie for Education Week