Researching Readers Online: understanding the impact of digital transformations on the reading process

现在如此多的读者都在用数字方式阅读和评论文献，我们必须探索数字化对阅读实践的影响，以及对研究人员可用的机会和方法的影响。数字化等变化正在塑造我们的整个文化遗产，因此我们需要了解它们的影响。数字技术使读者更容易参与与阅读有关的各种活动，包括与其他读者联系，甚至自己写故事。在线社区和粉丝论坛为研究人员提供了丰富的数据，不仅包括读者阅读的内容，还包括他们如何阅读和参与文本。这些数据具有潜在的无价之宝，尤其是在阅读被认为在下降的背景下，在电子阅读器等新设备有可能取代印刷书籍的情况下。该项目将调查这些变化的影响，以及它们如何可能使广泛的利益相关者受益，包括那些在教育和创意产业工作的人，以及对读者和受众感兴趣的学者。PI和Co-I将利用我们在大学媒体学院教授文学专家的独特地位：-分析读者对在线空间（博客，评论，同人小说）文学文本的反应-监控我们的学生使用数字和电子设备进行阅读的方式-使用在线问卷调查和焦点小组寻求读者对数字化对其阅读习惯和实践的影响的看法和意见。该研究还将使用来自研讨会和访谈的数据，这些数据旨在与从事读者研究的多学科研究人员合作：-在文学理论和教育学中开发新的方法和见解，以了解读者的实践-反思这类研究所带来的道德责任-建立在现有的学术基础上，以批判性地评估未来研究的适当方法。收益和产出包括：-有利于工业界和学术界的阅读实践的新信息-通过不断发展的理论对现有知识的贡献-加强数字时代的文学教学-为这些领域的未来教学和研究提供路线图，使英国教育和研究机构受益。这些将通过我们在这些领域工作的学者和实践者网络进行传播；通过讲习班和出版物；并通过创建专门的网站面向更广泛的受众（例如阅读小组）。

Now so many readers are consuming and commenting on literature digitally, we must explore the impact of digitisation on reading practices and on the opportunities and methods available to researchers. Changes like digitisation are shaping our whole cultural heritage so we need to understand their impact. Digital technologies have made it much easier for readers to participate in a wide range of activities around their reading, including connecting with other readers and even writing stories themselves. Online communities and fan forums present researchers with a wealth of data not only on what readers are reading, but how they are reading and engaging with texts. This data is potentially invaluable, especially in a context where reading is supposedly in decline, and where new devices such as ereaders are threatening to supplant the printed book. This project will investigate the implications of these changes, and how they may potentially benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including those working in education and in the creative industries, as well as academics interested in readers and audiences. The PI and Co-I will use our unique position as literary experts teaching in our University's Media School to: - Analyse reader responses to literary texts in online spaces (blogs, reviews, fanfiction)- Monitor the ways in which our students use digital and electronic devices for reading- Use online questionnaires and focus groups to seek out the views and opinions of readers about the effects of digitisation on their reading habits and practices. The research will also use data from workshops and interviews designed to collaborate with multidisciplinary researchers working on studies of readers to: - Develop new approaches and insights into the practices of readers in both literary theory and pedagogy- Reflect on the ethical responsibilities that come with this type of research- Build on existing scholarship to critically assess appropriate methodologies for future research. Benefits and outputs include:- New information on reading practices that benefit industry and academia- Contribution to existing knowledge through evolving theory- Enhancing the teaching of literature in a digital age- Providing a roadmap for future teaching and research in these areas to benefit UK educational and research institutions. These will be disseminated through our network of academics and practitioners working in these areas; through workshops and publications; and to a wider audience (e.g. reading groups) via the creation of a dedicated website.