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International Review of Education

, Volume 59, Issue 1, pp 87–112 | Cite as

Why should I read? - A cross-cultural investigation into adolescents’ reading socialisation and reading attitude

  • Peter Broeder
  • Mia Stokmans
Article
First Online:

Abstract

While reading behaviour of adolescents is a frequent object of research, most studies in this field are restricted to a single country. This study investigates reading as a leisure-time activity across social groups from three regions differing in reading tradition as well as in the facilities available for reading. The authors analyse the reading behaviour of a total of 2,173 adolescents in the Netherlands, in Beijing (China), and in Cape Town (South Africa). Taking Icek Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour as a starting point, the authors adjusted it to model the three most important determinants of reading behaviour, namely (1) reading attitude; (2) subjective norms (implicit and explicit social pressure to read); and (3) perceived behavioural control, which includes reading proficiency and appropriateness of the available books (book supply). While they found the adjusted model to fit the Dutch and Beijing situation quite well, it appeared to be inappropriate for the Cape Town situation. Despite considerable cultural and situational differences between the Netherlands and Beijing, the results show a similar pattern for these two environments. The most important determinants turn out to be: the hedonic reading attitude, the implicit norm of family and friends, the attractiveness of the available choice of books, and the perceived reading proficiency.

Keywords

Theory of Planned Behaviour Leisure reading Attitude Subjective norm Perceived behavioural control China South Africa The Netherlands 

Résumé

À quoi bon lire ? Une étude transculturelle sur la socialisation à la lecture et l’attitude face à la lecture chez les adolescents – Si le comportement de lecture chez les adolescents est un sujet fréquent de recherche, la plupart des travaux dans le domaine se limitent à un seul pays. Cette étude explore la lecture en tant qu’activité de loisir auprès de groupes sociaux issus de trois régions, qui diffèrent par leurs traditions de lecture ainsi que par les structures de lecture existantes. Les auteurs analysent le comportement de lecture auprès d’une cohorte totale de 2173 adolescents originaires des Pays-Bas, de Pékin (Chine) et du Cap (Afrique du Sud). Partant de la Théorie du Comportement Planifié (TCP) d’Icek Ajzen, les auteurs adaptent cette dernière pour modéliser les trois principaux déterminants du comportement de lecture, à savoir (1) l’attitude face à la lecture, (2) les normes subjectives (pression sociale implicite et explicite de lire), et (3) la maîtrise comportementale perçue, qui porte sur la maîtrise de la lecture et la pertinence des ouvrages disponibles (approvisionnement en livres). Les auteurs constatent que le modèle adapté correspond assez bien à la situation néerlandaise et chinoise, il s’avère par contre inapproprié à la ville du Cap. Malgré les différences culturelles et situationnelles considérables entre les Pays-Bas et Pékin, les résultats dévoilent un schéma similaire pour ces deux environnements. Les principaux déterminants s’avèrent être les suivants : une attitude hédoniste face à la lecture, la norme implicite au sein de la famille et du cercle d’amis, l’attrait de l’assortiment disponible de livres, et la maîtrise perçue de la lecture.

Zusammenfassung

Warum soll ich lesen? Eine kulturvergleichende Untersuchung zur Lesesozialisierung und Leseeinstellung von Jugendlichen – Obgleich das Leseverhalten von Jugendlichen ein beliebtes Forschungsgebiet ist, beschränken sich die meisten Studien zu diesem Thema auf einzelne Länder. Diese Studie untersucht das Lesen als Freizeitbeschäftigung in sozialen Gruppen aus drei Regionen, die sich sowohl im Hinblick auf Lesetraditionen als auch auf die Möglichkeiten zum Lesen unterscheiden. Die Autoren analysieren das Leseverhalten von insgesamt 2.173 Jugendlichen in den Niederlanden, in Beijing (China) und in Kapstadt (Südafrika). Als Ausgangspunkt wählten die Autoren das Modell des geplanten Verhaltens von Icek Ajzen und passten es an die drei wichtigsten Bestimmungsgrößen des Leseverhaltens an: 1. Leseeinstellung, 2. subjektive Normen (impliziter und expliziter sozialer Druck, zu lesen) und 3. wahrgenommene Verhaltenskontrolle, einschließlich Lesekompetenz und Eignung der verfügbaren Literatur (Buchangebot). Während sich dieses angepasste Modell für die Verhältnisse in den Niederlanden und Beijing gut bewährte, schien es für die Verhältnisse in Kapstadt ungeeignet zu sein. Trotz der beträchtlichen kulturellen und situativen Unterschiede zwischen den Niederlanden und Beijing zeigen die Ergebnisse in beiden Umgebungen ähnliche Muster. Als wichtigste Determinanten erwiesen sich die hedonistische Leseeinstellung, implizite Normen von Familie und Freunden, die Attraktivität des Buchangebots und die wahrgenommene Lesekompetenz.

Resumen

¿Por qué debería leer? Una investigación transcultural sobre la socialización de la lectura y la actitud de lectura de los adolescentes – Si bien el comportamiento de lectura de los adolescentes es un tema frecuentemente investigado, la mayor parte de los estudios que se realizan en esta área se limita a un solo país. El presente trabajo estudia la lectura como actividad de tiempo libre a lo largo de diferentes grupos sociales y en tres regiones distintas en cuanto a su tradición de lectura y también en cuanto a las facilidades disponibles para la lectura. Los autores analizan el comportamiento de lectura de un total de 2.173 adolescentes en los Países Bajos, en Beijing (China) y en Ciudad del Cabo (Sudáfrica). Tomando como punto de partida la Teoría del Comportamiento Planificado, de Icek Ajzen, los autores lo ajustaron para reproducir los tres determinantes más importantes del comportamiento de lectura: (1) actitud de lectura; (2) normas subjetivas (presión social implícita y explícita de leer); y (3) el control de comportamiento percibido, que incluye capacidad lectora y conveniencia de los libros disponibles (provisión de libros). Si bien los autores comprobaron que el modelo ajustado se correspondía bastante bien con la situación de Holanda y de Beijing, resultó ser inapropiado para la situación en Ciudad del Cabo. Pese a considerables diferencias culturales y situacionales entre los Países Bajos y Beijing, los resultados mostraron un modelo similar para estos dos entornos. Los determinantes más importantes, finalmente resultaron ser los siguientes: la actitud de lectura hedónica, la norma implícita de familiares y amigos, el atractivo de la clase de libros disponibles y la capacidad lectora percibida. Open image in new window

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Notes

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for valuable discussions and comments.

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© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Tilburg University, TSHTilburgThe Netherlands

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