Reading from Screen versus Paper: There is No Difference

Abstract This paper considers the effect of presentation medium on reading speed and comprehension. By directly comparing performance using screen and paper presentations, it examines the argument that it takes longer to read from a screen-based display than from paper, and that comprehension will be lower. The hypothesis is also tested that it takes longer to read light characters on a dark background compared with dark characters on a light background, and that comprehension will be lower with light-character displays. Altogether four conditions were used, with two passages read in each condition: screen with dark characters, screen with light characters, paper with dark characters, and paper with light characters. Subjects also ranked the four conditions for preference. No significant difference was found in either reading speed or comprehension between screen and paper, or between dark and light character displays. Some preference differences were found, however. Reasons for the lack of reading and comprehension differences are discussed, and it is argued that this reflects the close attention to experimental detail paid in the present experiment, which has often been missing in past studies.