Abstract of

Extracurricular Reading Habits of College Students in Taiwan: Findings From Two National Surveys

Su-Yen Chen

The Chinese people have great regard for those who read widely, yet little is known of the extracurricular reading behaviors of Chinese students. This study drew on data from two national surveys to investigate the amount of time Taiwanese college students spend on extracurricular reading. Findings are interpreted in relation to prior research on the reading habits of college students internationally. The study found that

• Female students on average did not spend more time on extracurricular reading than males

• Students from public institutions, who generally have higher academic competence, did not spend more time reading than students from private institutions

• Education majors spent the least time on extracurricular reading

• Newspapers, magazines, and bestsellers were the most popular reading materials, but manga (graphic novels) had medium popularity

• Crosscultural differences might have an impact on the amount of time spent reading and on reading interests

Abstract from Chen, S. (2007, May). Extracurricular Reading Habits of College Students in Taiwan: Findings From Two National Surveys. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 50(8), 642–653. doi: 10.1598/JAAL.50.8.3