Digital textbooks significantly boost students' intrinsic learning motivation
A research team from The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and East China Normal University (ECNU) has published a meta-analysis demonstrating the impact of digital textbooks (DTs) on student motivation.
A research team from The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and East China Normal University (ECNU) has published a meta-analysis demonstrating the impact of digital textbooks (DTs) on student motivation.
The short version
- Synthesizing 27 experimental and quasi-experimental studies conducted between 2000 and 2024 with 3,590 participants, the study confirms that DTs significantly enhance students' intrinsic learning motivation compared with traditional paper textbooks.
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
- The study, published in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning , was led by Professor Lei Hao of ECNU, with Professor Chiu Ming-ming, chair professor of analytics and diversity at EdUHK, as a key member of the team.
What happened
For years, educators have debated whether DTs are simply electronic replicas of print materials or whether they can genuinely transform student engagement. This study's theoretical framework shows that DTs—through their accessibility, multimodal features (such as audio and video) and interactive tools—effectively meet students' core psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness.
Why it matters
In doing so, they foster deeper engagement and strengthen students' understanding of learning materials.
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