Reading Habits Among Under Graduate Students in Nursing Colleges of Kanchipuram District in the Digital Era: A Study

Muruganandham G^1* and Prakash N^{2* *}Correspondence: Muruganandham G, Department of Librarian, University of S A College of Arts & Science, Chennai-631552, Tamilnadu, India, Tel: +9551285085, Email: Prakash N, Department of Assistant Librarian, University of Meenakshi Medical College Hospital, Chennai-631552, Tamilnadu, India, Email:

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Introduction

In the last decade computers, cell phones and the internet access have become widely available. Such increased availability of technology may lead to changes in reading quality and reading habits. Quality of reading includes not only reading comprehension, but also the pleasure of reading.

In the digital era has brought with it publishing in electronic form. This is an era of E-books, E-journals. The prediction of a paperless society made by F.W. Lancaster in 1978 has not come true. According to him, all publishing would be in electronic form in 2000. But we have witnessed that owing to various advantages the print medium is still popular. Instead of eliminating paper information technologies have combination of images, sound, text and graphics in what is referred to as multimedia conveys knowledge in a highly synthetic and powerful manner (Kurata, K, 2017).

A study the positive relationships that exist between the amounts of time spent in recreational reading and academic achievement. Reading is an important and most significant activity in a society. It is important for people to acquire knowledge and information. Even though information may appear in many different media people still read.

Objectives

• To determine the reading habits among the students.
• To find out the reading resources used by the students.
• Reasons for the change in the reading habits of the students.
• To assess the level of satisfaction of reading in the digital era.
• To find the measures to improve the reading habits among the students.

Literature Review

Information collected through well designed questionnaires was distributed to the under graduated Arts and Science students of the selected colleges situated in Kanchipuram district. Totally 225 questionnaires were distributed to the students and 183 questionnaires was received. So sample size is 183 (Mohammad, K, 2004).

Gender wise distribution of respondents

There are 59 male students and 124 female students who responded to the questionnaire, which constitutes 32.24% male students and 67.76% female students of the total population of the respondents (Table 1).

Table 1: Gender Wise Distribution of Respondents.

Frequency of visits to the library

The major of students visit the library daily which forms 36.06% of the total students, 22.95% students visit the library twice per week, about 11.47% students visit the library once per week. About 14.21% students visit the library twice in a month, 9.29 students visited the library once per month and about 6.02% students do not visit at all (Table 2).

Table 2: Frequency of Visits to the Library.

Time spent for reading in the library

Majority of the students said that there is no fixed time for reading. They constitute about 41.53% of the total population of the respondents (Table 3). About 34.42% of students read for one hour, about 14.76% of students read for two hours and only 9.29% students read for more than 2 hours.

Table 3: Time Spent for Reading in the Library.

Library resources used by the students

About 28.96% of students to visit the library to read text books and reference books 19.67% of students visit the library read newspapers, 9.84% of students to read magazines, 22.95% of students to visit for competitive exam books, 5.46% of students to visit the library to read other reference materials like dictionaries, encyclopaedias, autobiographies etc. 13.12% of students to visit the library to read journals (Table 4).

Table 4: Library Resources used by the Students.

Discussion

Purpose of reading

The majority of the students read to prepare for their study purpose which constitutes 47.551% of the total population of the respondents (Table 5). 18.03% of respondents for recreational purpose, 14.75% of students read to upgrade their knowledge. And 19.67% of student’s read to prepare for competitive exams.

Table 5: Purpose of Reading

Effect on reading habits in the digital era

The majority of the students observed that the reading habits have changed to a great extent in the digital era which forms 53.55% of the total population of respondents. About 34.43% of students felt that reading habits have been affected to some extent in the digital era (Table 6). About 6.56 of each said that they never say and 2.18% reading habits are not affected at all (Gallik, 1999).