Fiction e-book reading : Qualitative interviews with adult readers

This bachelor thesis studies adults’ reading of fiction e-books. The study emphasizes on the users’ reflections on their reading and their experience with e-books. The aim is to find out how the users read an e-book, how they experience the e-book and the e-book reading and what might be the reasons behind the users’ choice of an e-book instead of a printed book.The empirical data for the study comprises of qualitative interviews with six adult readers of fiction e-books. To analyze the result a content analysis was used. The theory is based upon materiality and modality, two concepts which are part of what is referred to as the four M’s of reading.The results of the study indicate that the users choose to read e-books for various reasons and in various ways. Most users prefer the e-book when traveling. They like the e-book for its accessibility and portability. Only a few users prefer the printed book over the e-book, but most users express a preference for the e-book for reasons concerning its convenient size and functionality