Research
Our research specifies the associations between e-book features, children’s characteristics and diverse reading contexts. The research members of our Collective have identified four interdisciplinary themes that cut across narratives in digital or non-digital formats and that require research in terms of both positive and negative effects:
- children’s attention and engagement
- materiality and embodiment
- personalization and customization
- interactivity and multimedia
Featured publications
Sari, B., Takacs, Z. K., & Bus, A. G. (2017). What are we downloading for our children? Best-selling children’s apps in four European countries. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 1468798417744057.
Smeets, D. J., & Bus, A. G. (2012). Interactive electronic storybooks for kindergartners to promote vocabulary growth. Journal of experimental child psychology, 112(1), 36-55.
Smeets, D. J., & Bus, A. G. (2013). Picture storybooks go digital: Pros and cons. Reading instruction in the age of common core standards, 176-189.
Takacs, Z. K., Swart, E. K., & Bus, A. G. (2014). Can the computer replace the adult for storybook reading? A meta-analysis on the effects of multimedia stories as compared to sharing print stories with an adult. Frontiers in Psychology, 5.
Takacs, Z. K., Swart, E. K., & Bus, A. G. (2015). Benefits and pitfalls of multimedia and interactive features in technology-enhanced storybooks: A meta-analysis. Review of educational research, 85(4), 698-739.
Verhallen, M. J., & Bus, A. G. (2010). Low-income immigrant pupils learning vocabulary through digital picture storybooks. Journal of educational psychology, 102(1), 54.
Kucirkova, N. (2016). Personalisation: A theoretical possibility to reinvigorate children’s interest in storybook reading and facilitate greater book diversity. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 17(3), 304-316.
Kucirkova, N. (2017). Digital personalization in early childhood: Impact on childhood: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Featured research projects
DROPS is currently developing prototypes for dynamically adapted personalization, funded through EPSRC in the UK. DROPS project will be specifically working with children’s publishers for e-books as the first ‘Thing’ in the ThingBox. ThingBox, is a cloud-enabled space where HAT owners can store the data of the things they own.
The HATLAB is an innovation space where new projects, MVPs, and pilots or proofs of concept are created before they go into the HAT live environment. Based in UK in Warwick, Cambridge and London.
UCL
This project investigates the benefits and limitations of personalisation in children’s digital products, with a specific focus on personalised books.The project was funded by ESRC and hosted by UCL Institute of Education (IOE) 2017-2019.
This project uses storybook apps and print picture books in language-focused reading activities in kindergartens. The project developed an app that kindergarten staff can use to consider to what extent specific features of e-books are appropriate for such activities.