The Guardian recently ran an article (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/17/kids-reading-better-paper-vs-screen) covering a research study examining qualitative differences in brain-patterns in a group of ~60 middle-schoolers reading a text either on paper or on a screen. For entirely self-interested reasons, we thought this subject worth posting about.

However, the Guardian article extrapolates much further from the experiment than the researchers themselves do; the full-preprint research paper can be read here:

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.08.30.553693v1.full

Specifically, I think the second paragraph of their conclusion is worth reading:

"For reasons related to study delimitations and limitations we think it too early to generate a set of recommendations for adaptation in the classroom. However, we do think that these study outcomes warrant adding our voices to those of Delgado et al. [2] in suggesting that we should not yet throw away printed books, since we were able to observe in our participant sample an advantage for depth of processing when reading from print. Applications for digital reading should not be dismissed, either: the observation of a potential print advantage does not negate the value of rapid access to information that could be supported by digital reading. It may be that classroom practices should strategically match reading strategies and mediums to task, such that printed media are employed when deeper processing is required while digital access to text is utilized for other needs."