Procedures
Before beginning the study, parental and student consent was obtained for participation
(see Appendices D and E). Once permission was obtained for each student, the study began. A
book was selected for use prior to the entrance into the classroom. The book must be
developmentally and topically appropriate for the age level chosen and should contain an
interesting plot. The appropriate number of books was then obtained both electronically and inprint.
A device also had to be chosen for the electronic reader as well. For this study, the iPad
was utilized. Once these steps were completed, the researcher was able to enter the classroom.
This study was conducted over a three day period. The first day, the researcher entered
the classroom to explain the study, obtain consent from the students, and present the iPad. The
researcher demonstrated the iPad and its uses, focusing mostly on the iBooks application. The
students learned how to use the iBooks application to read the text the following days. The
researcher demonstrated how to turn on the iPad, how to open the iBooks application, and how to
open the electronic books and turns its pages. The researcher did not demonstrate tools of the
iBooks application, such as notes, highlighting, and dictionary. The students were encouraged to
ask questions and explore the applications of the iPad during this session.
On the first day of the actual study, one group of students (8 selected at random) read
chapters 1 and 2 of The White Wolf by Ron Roy using the iBooks application on the iPad. The
remaining students (n = 10) read the same selection but from an in-print version of the text. The students were asked to read the selection silently during their classroom sustained silent reading
time previously established by their teacher. After both groups completed their reading
assignment, both completed a comprehension quiz. The comprehension quizzes were identical,
regardless of the device used to read.
During the second day of the study, the student groups switched assignments. The group
that received the opportunity to use the iPads read the in-print version of the text. Those who
read the in-print version on the previous day switched to read using the iPad. Similar to the
previous day, the students read the selection silently and completed a comprehension quiz. The
students were reading chapters 3 and 4 during this session. Lastly, during this final session, the
students were asked to complete a survey based on their experiences. The survey asked the
students to discuss their experience and attitude toward the use of the iPad for reading versus the
use of the in-print text. After the third session was completed, the researcher analyzed the data
from both comprehension quizzes and survey.