Electronic dictionary use is an under-researched area (Jopling 2003, Tono 2000);
and the few studies that look closely at what happens when electronic dictionaries
are consulted mainly concern the use of learner's dictionaries on CD-ROM
(e.g. Jopling 2003, Nesi and Haill 2002, Winkler 2001). Most prior research into
PED use has been confined to quantitative ownership surveys (e.g. Deng 2005,
Taylor and Chan 1994) and qualitative investigations into teacher and student
attitudes and beliefs (e.g. Boonmoh and Nesi 2008, Sobkowiak 2002). A few
simple experiments have been conducted, such as a look-up 'race' between PED
and print dictionary users (Weschler and Pitts 2000), but there have been no
close analyses of exactly what happens when PED users look up words. The
'Green tea' experiment is an attempt to fill in this research gap.