Strategies for Internet reading with different purposes: A descriptive study of twelve good Internet readers

Zhang, S., & Duke, N. K. (2008). Strategies for Internet reading with different purposes: A descriptive study of twelve good Internet readers. Journal of Literacy Research, 40(1), 128-162.


This study observed what 12 "good" adult Internet readers did when they performed Internet reading tasks for these purposes: to find specific information, to acquire general information, and for entertainment. It was not surprising that the ways these readers navigated the Internet differed based upon the task and the purpose. This fits with what we know about good print readers.

More interesting to me were the lists of the various strategies these readers actually used, organized based upon the phases observed for each reading task, seen in several figures. I connected with these lists, and they prompted me to reflect on my own behaviors as an Internet user. Of course, just knowing what good readers do doesn't always mean we can directly turn those observations into instructional plans for readers who struggle.

Curiously, only one female was part of the 12 participants. How did that happen? Problems in research design? Or are females less Internet-savvy?

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