The Effect of Listening Versus Reading Comprehension on Immediate and Long-Term Retention

• In Event: Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: Issues Related to Reading Comprehension

Abstract

121 adults (m/62, f/59) completed a standardized comprehension test in both an auditory and written format. There was no significant difference between males and females’ overall comprehension. There was no difference between reading and listening comprehension for females; males performed significantly better on the listening assessment. In a second experiment, 91 participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups that received the same instructional material but each in a different instructional condition (digital audiobook, e-text, dual modality). Analyses showed that both males and females in each condition recalled an equal amount of information regardless of whether they listened to an audiobook, read from an electronic tablet, or both listened and read simultaneously (dual modality).

Authors

• Beth A. Rogowsky, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

• Paula Tallal, Rutgers University