THE INFLUENCE OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION ON READING AND WRITING

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of the new learning environment created by computer-mediated communication on two language processes: reading and writing. Two major issues were explored in the study: (I) whether or not the use of hypertext in a web environment have brought about any changes to the way advanced readers approach a text, and (2) whether the use of e-mail correspondence has yielded a variety of language different from, or similar to, other common varieties. The study was divided into two parts. The first part concerned itself with the following issues: (I) whether or not there are any differences between reading from the screen and reading out of the printed page, (2) whether or not the amount of information involved in the World Wide Web and the nature of the hypertext affect the reader's ability to follow, and concentrate on one specific point, (3) whether or not readers using hypertext in a web environment adapt themselves to new reading strategies that are different from the traditional ones, and (4) whether or not readers use a critical perspective (e.g. identifying the inclinations and values that the different cultural groups dominating the web involve in their WWW sites) when they read a hypertext in a web environment. The data collected for this part of the study involved survey questionnaires, oral interviews, browsing some web sites dealing with related issues. 120 graduate students from the University of Oregon (USA) served as subjects for this part of the study. The data analysis yielded the following results: (I) The subjects are quite aware of the difference between hypertext environment and printed text environment. The major difference observed by tl1e subjects is the way information is organized and displayed in a hypertext, particularly the use of links. (2) The results also show that the subjects face some problems with links especially when they are not well made. They are also lacking some advanced computer and li1temet skills which might be useful when reading a hypertext.