Help, a book! - Underlying factors affecting attitudes towards reading fiction in Swedish education among students in Upper Secondary School

Today, teenagers seem to be less interested in reading in general and many researchers fear that the future for the classic fiction book is uncertain. In this research survey we take a deeper look into underlying factors affecting students’ attitudes towards fiction in printed text when they are reading in Swedish class. In order to provide a meaningful reading education, this information can be important for teachers, especially when there is an unwillingness to read among students. Students can be negative or indifferent towards reading because they cannot feel a desire to read or because they can’t see how the reading can be useful for them. Through Swedish and international research, we have identified factors that can affect the students desire and ideas of usefulness. Some factors are about students’ own backgrounds, such as their gender, social class and mother tongue. Their choice of Upper Secondary School education (preparatory or vocational training) and their ability to read written language can also affect their attitudes. Students who are poor readers and have difficulties comprehending texts tend to have more negative attitudes towards reading in general. Some factors effecting students’ attitudes can be found within the school system. How can the teacher´s choice of fiction in Swedish class effect students’ attitudes and what is the purpose of reading in school? When reading at home teenagers usually look for an entertaining experience but in school students must obtain certain skills from reading fiction. At home teenagers more often take part in fiction on screen, for example on computers or TVs, while schools still use printed books. Our conclusion is that these underlying factors that we have mentioned are connected and it is difficult to separate them from each other. There is also no simple answer to how to change students’ attitudes. However, we have found that a great responsibility inevitably rests on the shoulders of the teacher to choose fiction that appeals their students