"To read or not to read - that is the question" : Reading engagement and reading habits in a gender perspective

• The PISA 2009 student questionnaire posed several questions about reading habits and reading attitudes, and many of these questions were also represented in the student questionnaire in PISA 2000. Thus, we are able to study Nordic boys´ and girls´reading habits and engagement over time. Although there are some differences between the Nordic countries, the overall impression is that Nordic 15-year olds spent less time reading for enjoyment in 2009 than they did in 2000. However, they spent more time online in 2009 than they did in 2000. Gender differences favouring girls were great in 2000, both in terms of reading achievement and reading engagement, and this picture has not changed in 2009. Furthermore, the weakest readers read far less in their leisure time than the best readers. In all the Nordic countries and for both genders, reading engagement shows a higher correlation with reading scores than social background. Lastly, we relate our findings to current research and discuss the implications they may have for teachers and students.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogy (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogiskt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogical Work (hsv//eng)

Keyword

reading engagement reading achievement reading habits gender PISA

pedagogiskt arbete

educational work

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kap (subject category)